Missing Bethesda Man's Family Offers $25K Reward

BETHESDA, MD — Seven weeks after authorities began their search for John Patrick Donohoe, the Bethesda man who disappeared after a hospital stay, his family is now offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to Donohoe’s whereabouts.

Donohoe, 36, of Auburn Avenue, was last seen about 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 13 at a family member’s house on Elmore Lane in Bethesda. The relative returned home from running errands and found that Donohoe had left. Authorities say Donohoe's black 2011 Chevrolet Equinox with Maryland tag 2AK8853 was missing from the relative's house and has not been located.

Court documents say that Donohoe was released from Suburban Hospital Dec. 12 and that his family was “concerned about his mental wellness and were not able to make any contact with him after he left,” reports Bethesda Magazine.

Donohoe's father is D.C. area developer Bob Donohoe, who has pleaded with the public for help finding his son.

"The credit card has been used, and John's not here. We don't know what the link is. We need to find John. We have to find out what's going on," Bob Donohoe told NBC Washington.

A Prince George's County woman has been charged with racking up $700 in charges on the missing man's credit card, which she says her boyfriend gave her, according to court records. Chernor Sheriff, 25, of Upper Marlboro, was cited with four counts of fraudulently using a credit card in January, according to Maryland online court records. Sheriff used a credit card belonging to Donohoe at a beauty supply store in Hyattsville, according to Montgomery County Police.

She told police that her boyfriend, Victor Sesay, 37, of Upper Marlboro, gave her Donohoe's credit card to use. Sheriff says she doesn't know how Sesay obtained the credit card and that she doesn’t know Donohoe. Sesay has been questioned in the case, no charges have been filed against him.

Police are still investigating how Sheriff obtained Donohoe's credit card. Detectives say that on Dec. 22, the woman used the credit card to buy a total of $700 worth of items at a beauty supply store and at other retailers in the Hyattsville area.

Donohoe is a white man, 5 feet, 11 inches tall, and weighs 145 pounds. He has short black hair, brown eyes and a mustache. Police and family members are concerned for Donohoe’s emotional and physical welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Donohoe is asked to call police at 240-773-5070. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

»Photo of John Donohoe of Bethesda, courtesy of Montgomery County Police Department