Disaster CDC employee goes missing - Found dead in a river

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...cunningham-went-missing-more-week-ago-n850721

FEB 23 2018, 4:58 PM ET
CDC employee Timothy Cunningham went missing more than a week ago
by PHIL MCCAUSLAND

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employee was last seen 11 days ago, when he left work early after complaining that he felt unwell, Atlanta police said Friday.

Timothy Cunningham, 35, works as a commander in the U.S. Public Health Service and has responded to the Ebola virus and the Zika virus outbreaks, the CDC said. He holds two degrees from Harvard.

Police are now conducting a search for Cunningham and have enlisted the help of his family, friends and the alumni network of his alma mater Morehouse College.

The search effort includes small and large groups organizing to canvas and flyer the local area, said close friend David Calloway. He spoke on behalf of the family and is helping lead the search. Social media, digital messaging services and Morehouse’s alumni network have expanded that effort nationwide.


Timothy Cunningham, a CDC worker who was reported missing on Feb. 14, 2018. via Atlanta Police Department
Cunningham's family told NBC News that they stayed in near constant contact with each other, and said that he and his sister spoke nearly every day. Cunningham's sister last spoke to him around 7 a.m. on Feb. 12, Cunningham's parents said.

"Tim had been in communication with us extensively on Sunday [Feb. 11], and I pinpoint Sunday because there were some exchanges via phone as well as text that alerted me to be concerned about our son," his father Terrell Cunningham said.

Cunningham's parents said they became increasingly worried when he did not return any texts or phone calls. They then had extended family members check on his house in Atlanta, which seemed empty despite two open windows — an alarming detail, as Cunningham's parents said their son was particularly environmentally conscious.

Increasingly worried, Cunningham's parents said they drove through the night from their Maryland home to Atlanta. When they entered their son's house, they said they found his phone, wallet, keys and car undisturbed. His beloved dog Beau also was also left at the home, they added.

"Tim never leaves Beau unattended," Terrell Cunningham said. "He just doesn't do it."

The family said they have reached out to their contacts in the medical community to check hospitals and asked their friends to search parks.

Joe Carlos, a close friend of Cunningham's from college and a neighbor in Atlanta, said that he and Cunningham had bought tickets to attend a gala last weekend that celebrated the anniversary of the founding of Morehouse, their alma mater.

“Our last communication the week prior was about hanging out before and going down to the VIP reception and enjoying ourselves,” Carlos said. “I can speak for myself and so many classmates that this is very, very shocking.”

Cunningham’s friends described him as opinionated, positive and happy — and they noted his reliability.

"He has this pristine service record and background, and then he’s also the guy you can call to help you move furniture or get together with you at a restaurant at the end of a long day,” said Calloway, who also knew Cunningham from college and has maintained a close relationship with him over the years.

Cunningham is also noted for his service to the Atlanta community, earning the Outstanding Atlanta award in 2014 in recognition of his “service, leadership and achievements of Atlanta young professionals.” He was named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 under 40last year.

His friends said that Cunningham is beloved in the Atlanta community and by those who know him. As a result, they said they have raised more than $20,000 as a reward for information that helps locate him. They said they plan to maintain the search as long as it takes.

"There has been an outpouring of love from his neighbors and the community, but my main focus is just that my son returns home," his mother Tia-Juana Cunningham said.

“Tim, if you see any of this information please know that you can come back home," his mother added, speaking directly to her son. "We love and miss you. We just want you back in our arms.”

He was a leader in both Ebola and Zika response to the outbreaks and holds two degrees from Harvard. What’s odd is all of his belongings were at home. Is it a case of a bender gone wrong, or is this some mysterious conspiracy?

Update: His body was found

They just fished him out of a river. Death by drowning seems to be the working theory.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43658329

 

[Alec Benson Leary]

This is how that James Franco planet of the apes movie ended.

We have to go to the zoos and execute all the chimpanzees. It's the only way to be sure.

 

[Trans Fat 41g]

They traveled beyond our galaxy to send an alien star into early Nova, unleashing the reality-warping abomination contained within.

 

[TiggerNits]

Those wacky negros and their bad swimming.

 

[Dysnomia]

They just fished him out of a river. Death by drowning seems to be the working theory.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43658329

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Cunningham, who was known to collect rocks, was found with crystals in his pocket and wearing running shoes.

His death has been classified as a drowning.

"Since the investigation is ongoing, we do not have...whether it was an accident, a suicide, or anything other than that" he drowned, said Fulton County Chief Medical Examiner Jan Gorniak.

So it's possible he decided to take a walk, found some crystals by the river and fell in while trying to reach for one in the water. He could have just forgotten his keys. It happens. But to forget your keys, wallet and phone all at the same time is still a bit weird to me. One or even two of those things forgotten is plausible. Everyone walks out of the house forgetting one of these things at least once. But all three? The article doesn't say how far his house was from the river. But if it was close and he felt like picking up some rocks then I can see him just going for a short walk. Still dangerous to not take your phone when close to a body of water.

It looks like the Chattahoochee is a good place to go when looking for rocks, gold and fossils. He may have went there a lot without any issues and never thought he'd fall in. He could have hit his head. He also wasn't feeling well. Maybe he fainted. Sometimes when you have a fever you do weird things because you get delirious. I remember going to Chinatown with a friend while still very sick. I thought I was better. But it was just delirium messing with me and I ended up fainting. At least I was with someone.

I find this whole thing sketchy. His keys were locked in the house? The first article says two windows were open. So the house wasn't totally locked up then. But the second article implies that at least the door was locked. It's not implausible that he locked himself out of the front door by accident. What's weird is that he left everything he should have taken with him in the house. Not forgetting a couple of things. Forgetting, or purposely not taking, everything. Most people at least take a phone.

The pet, along with Mr Cunningham's keys, wallet, phone, identification, credit cards and passport were all found by investigators safely locked in his Atlanta home.

Maybe the windows were open for the dog or he forgot to close them up.

This guy could have had some undiagnosed or undisclosed mental illness and decided to commit suicide. Maybe that's why he said he wasn't feeling well.

Police initially said that on the day Mr Cunningham was last seen alive, he had expressed disappointment to his supervisor about missing a promotion.

But the CDC said last month that information was incorrect.

I'm wondering if it was indeed suicide despite what this says.

I'm curious if they will find any foul play after further investigation or if they will just give a final ruling of suicide or accident.

 

[Bunny]

THEY'RE MINERALS, MARIE!

 

[ICametoLurk]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Accidents happen all the time.

 

[Ebonic Tutor]

Wonder what he had on Hillary?

 

[Dysnomia]

The medical examiner has ruled Timothy Cunningham's death a suicide: https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-n...uled-suicide-drowning/gWYu2ijwNkORvOtg6pVz0M/

The death of an Atlanta researcher whose body was pulled from the Chattahoochee River has been ruled a suicide by drowning, the Fulton County Medical Examiner said Tuesday.

Timothy Cunningham, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was reported missing Feb. 14 from his northwest Atlanta home. On April 3, the 35-year-old’s body was found in the Chattahoochee River.

Cunningham’s parents told investigators their son had not been diagnosed with depression, but did have mood swings, according to documents released by the Medical Examiner’s office.

His parents also questioned whether he could have been given some type of drug that changed his behavior in the days before his disappearance.

Toxicology tests performed on his body showed Cunningham had marijuana in his system, but there were no other significant findings, Dr. Jan Gorniak, chief medical examiner, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. There were no signs of other trauma and it’s still unknown how he came to be in the river.

His parents and sister told investigators that in phone calls and text messages with Cunningham shortly before he disappeared, they noticed a difference in his tone. Atlanta police previously said Cunningham had been upset over not getting a promotion, though the CDC later said he had received a promotion several months prior to his disappearance.

Cunningham’s parents suspected something was wrong when they were unable to reach him by phone. The two drove from their Maryland home to their son’s Atlanta home, where they found all of his personal belongings inside the house, including his wallet, cellphone, SUV and beloved dog, Mr. Bojangles.

Fishermen spotted a body in the Chattahoochee on April 3, and two days later, the Medical Examiner’s office identified the remains as belonging to Cunningham.

Atlanta police have said the department’s investigation into Cunningham’s disappearance and death has been closed.

Hundreds attended the memorial service for Cunningham, a graduate of Morehouse College and Harvard University. Family and friends described a goal-oriented, driven man with a passion for helping others.

“It wasn’t just a career or job for him,” Capt. Marcella Law with the National Center for Chronic Disease told the crowd. “Tim felt that it was his calling to use his gift and change lives.”

It's still a little odd to me. No note. No indication that anything was the matter other than a change in tone. With no specifics given of that. Plus the CDC claims that he did indeed receive a promotion. Perhaps it just wasn't the one he was hoping for.

But it's not like you have to walk around with scarred wrists to prove you have a problem and are suicidal. He might just have been really good at hiding it. Either way, the case is now closed.