The reward money has increased in the search for a missing local college student. NBC10’s Monique Braxton has the latest on the investigation of the disappearance of Shane Montgomery.
FBI officials are now involved in the search for missing college student Shane Montgomery.
An FBI spokesperson told NBC10 their task force is often involved in missing persons cases when the person disappears under "suspicious circumstances."
The spokesperson also said FBI officials joined the investigation Saturday and assisted Philadelphia detectives in canvassing the area, interviewing people and looking for surveillance video. So far they haven't come up with any new leads, according to the spokesperson.
Twenty-one-year-old Montgomery walked out of a Manayunk pub and disappeared four days ago. On Sunday police picked back up their search for the missing West Chester University student while friends and volunteers were asked to stay home.
"Somebody knows where Shane is," said Shane's Karen Montgomery Saturday. "Somebody has to know something so you can't stop... It's a matter of he's our son and I won't ever stop looking for Shane."
Montgomery was last seen Thanksgiving Eve around 1:45 a.m. as he was leaving Kildare's bar along Main Street in the Philadelphia's Manayunk neighborhood. He was asked to leave the pub after he bumped into the DJ's table, his parents said. Sources also told NBC10 there was a fight outside the pub.
"My heart is broken," Karen said.
"We're waiting for him to walk in the door, but you realize that each hour goes... it's just harder and harder," added Shane's father, Kevin Montgomery.
Police marine units searched Sunday the nearby Schuylkill River and Manayunk Canal.
Hundreds of volunteers, including complete strangers scoured Manayunk Friday and Saturday as the #HelpFindShane hashtag was shared on social media networks. But Shane's family and investigators asked for friends to stay home Saturday evening so police can focus their investigation on locating Shane.
"I realize that people are here to help and that's what they want to do," said Karen Montgomery to a crowd of volunteers Saturday night. "I want the marine police unit to be able to do their job without any hindrance."
A message posted to the “Help Find Shane Montgomery” Facebook page reiterated the desire to let police work.
Shane's family watched as police officers searched the canal for clues around 10 a.m. Sunday. Police left the canal without finding Shane.
Shane, a West Chester University senior and Roman Catholic High School alum, had spent the night of Thanksgiving Eve — an evening many friends reunite while home for the holiday — barhopping with a few friends, Karen said.
She filed a police report after the Roxborough native didn’t return home.
Philadelphia Police do not suspect foul play, although his disappearance is considered suspicious. Authorities have used K-9s, helicopters and marine units to search Manayunk and Roxborough, as well as the Schuylkill River, which borders Main Street.
Family and friends have been unable to reach Shane on his cellphone, which was picked up by a cellphone tower in Lower Merion Township Thursday morning at 2:38 a.m.
The search party, which ballooned to hundreds Saturday morning, met for the second consecutive day at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Rector Street. Officials split the group into 12 teams, who then fanned out across the northwest Philadelphia neighborhood.
Shane, who weighs about 140 pounds and stands 5-foot-11-inches tall, was wearing a buttoned- down gray shirt, gray hoodie and jeans when he left the bar. He also has a unique Celtic cross tattoo on his shoulder.
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The Fraternal Order of Police offered Sunday evening a reward of $5,000 for reliable information leading to Shane’s safe return, bringing the total amount to $15,000. Karen asked that anyone who sees her son to call her at 215-920-2569. Anyone with information is also urged to contact Philadelphia Police Det. Valentino at 215-686-3353/54.
