FBI, Local Authorities Continue Investigation Into Four Missing Young Men

UPDATE: Bensalem Man In Custody As ‘Criminal Investigation’ Into Disappearance Of Four Men Continues

Bucks County law enforcement officials and state police gathered in Solebury to offer an update on the ongoing search for four missing young men from the region.

The four missing men are Tom Meo, 21 from Plumstead Township, who was last seen Friday, July 7; Mark Sturgis, 22, of Pennsburg, Montgomery County, who was last seen Friday, July 7; Dean Finocchiaro, 19, of Middletown’s Langhorne section, who was last seen Friday, July 7; and Jimi Tar Patrick, 19, of Newtown Township, who was last seen Wednesday, July 5.

District Attorney Matt Weintraub said the search is an all hands on deck situation with a number of agencies assisting in the investigation, including the FBI. Bucks County detectives are leading the investigation with assistance from municipal officers. Representatives from Middletown, Newtown, Solebury and Plumstead were also present for Monday’s press conference, as well as the state police.

Authorities said they are treating the investigation as a criminal matter at the moment, but they did not want to speak about what evidence led them to believe a crime had occurred.

Officials did not provide many new pieces of information to the public, but said many social media rumors are false.

When asked if the boys could be runaways and potentially not want to be found, Weintraub said, “missing is missing whether you want to be missing or you’ve been reported missing by someone who fears the worst.”

Weintraub did tell the public on Monday that they have information that states all four men knew each other, but they are still trying to determine if that information is accurate. It has been confirmed that Meo and Sturgis did know each other as they were together when they disappeared.

There are a number of ongoing searches in the Solebury area, however Weintraub could not comment on the number of search sites active as of late Monday morning.

The Bucks County Detectives’ large crime scene truck and the county’s large black command post vehicle were seen rolling into a corn field and detectives milled about the field unloading tools and focusing on the far end of the field, which sits near the area searched on Sunday.

Officers from Solebury also sat outside a 19th century house along Aquetong Road. The same home and garage that neighbors say were inspected Sunday, were looked at by detectives late Monday morning.

The roughly 70-acre field off Route 202 where police were focusing much of their efforts mid-morning Monday are owned by the same person who owns the empty home searched along Aquetong Road.

LevittownNow.com was unable to get in contact with the owner of the property but left a phone message at their business.  

Law enforcement said they don’t have a specific concern in regards to the public’s safety, but they are on heightened alert as noted by the police presence.

“Please don’t take the law into your own hands,” Weintraub implored during the press conference. “And please let us do our jobs so that we can find the whereabouts of these four young men.”

Authorities spent much of Sunday searching Solebury. They called in specially-trained K-9 units from Philadelphia and a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter who surveyed the area from above. An FBI spokesperson said an evidence recovery team has also been called in to assist at the search areas.

“At this point, I would ask for your patience and your prayers for these four young men,” Weintraub said.

If anyone has any information that could be pertinent to the search, they are encouraged to call 215-297-8201.