Missing Man's Cell Phone Found In Libertyville Forest Preserve

ANTIOCH, IL — After days of searching for a missing 24-year-old Antioch man, authorities turned up his work cell phone in a Libertyville forest preserve on Monday.

Thomas "Tommy" Howe is still missing, and authorities are now asking residents living in the area of the Old School Forest Preserve, 28285 N. St. Marys Road in Libertyville, to check their home security cameras for any suspicious activity from the weekend as they hope to track Howe down.

Howe was first reported missing after he walked away from a two-vehicle crash he was involved in on Interstate 94 near Route 176 at about 11 a.m. Saturday. There's been no confirmed sightings of him since then.

Howe is 5-feet, 8 inches tall and has brown eyes and brown hair. He was wearing a grey North Face jacket and jeans.

The Antioch Police Department has lead the extensive search effort. The Libertyville police and fire departments, Lake County Forest Preserve Police, Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group and the Wauconda Fire Department assisted in the search as well.

Also, 77 volunteers and five K9s from Illinois Wisconsin Search and Rescue Dogs in McHenry County assisted in the search Wednesday, and drones were also utilized. The search teams turned up the cell phone at Old School Forest Preserve but nothing else, police said.

“We’re asking anyone who thinks they may have seen Tommy over the past few days to contact the Antioch Police Dispatch Center,” said Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow. “I would also encourage anyone who lives near the Old School Forest Preserve to check their home security footage from the weekend to see if they see anything unusual.”

Howe's family said it's "completely out of character" for him to go this long without contacting them.

"We are working closely with the family to help find our missing resident," said Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow. "We ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy right now, as their main concern and focus is Tommy.”

Anyone who thinks they may have seen Howe is asked to call the CenCom Dispatch Center at 847-270-9111.