Kingsport Police Searching for Missing Endangered Adult
KINGSPORT – On March 16, 2016 at approximately 8:45 PM, John W. Pless was reported as a missing person to the Kingsport Police Department by his wife.‚ Mr. Pless has recently been experiencing memory issues consistent with the early stages of dementia; therefore, for the purposes of this investigation, he is being considered endangered.
Mrs. Pless stated that on March 16, 2016 at approximately 5:00 PM, her vehicle broke down.‚ She called her husband at home and asked him to come to assist her.‚ She said that while she was waiting for him, she observed his vehicle entering Interstate 26, headed toward Virginia.‚ She was eventually able to get her vehicle started and return home to their residence on Osage Drive in Kingsport, but Mr. Pless has not been seen or heard from since.
He is described as a 56 year old white male, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds.‚ He has gray hair and green eyes and is of average build.‚ He has a mustache and wears glasses.‚ Mr. Pless was last seen wearing a black thermal shirt and blue jeans.
He drives a 2004 red Chevrolet Colorado mid-size pickup truck displaying Tennessee license plate V72-91V.‚ Until recently, he has been employed by Joy Global in Duffield, Virginia, so the possibility exists that if he were to have become confused, driving toward the Southwest Virginia area would be familiar to him.
A recent photo of Mr. Pless and a stock photo of a pickup similar to his have been included in this release.‚ Anyone who sees him or his vehicle, or who may have any information which would help with this investigation and/or his location is asked to immediately contact Detectives in the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division at 423-229-9429 or call Kingsport Central Dispatch at 423-246-9111.
Mr. Pless is listed in N.C.I.C. nationwide as a missing endangered person, so if he is spotted outside of Kingsport, any law enforcement agency can be notified.‚ Anyone who sees him is asked to please make every effort to keep him in sight until officials arrive on scene and make contact with him.
Alternatively, if an individual who is able to supply information related to this or any other case wishes not to be identified, tips can be submitted anonymously via online Citizen Feedback forms available at the following link: