CHICAGO (WLS) — Elijah Hoard was dropped off by his father at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Friday as he was set to return home to France. However, Chicago police are now searching for the missing man after the family says Hoard never boarded his flight.
The search continued Sunday for the 23-year-old who went missing after visiting his father in Chicago. Elijah had spent 10 days in the city. A photo with his father shows the last time he was seen on Friday, just before he was scheduled to depart from O’Hare.
But his father, Antwon Hoard, says Elijah never checked in for his flight. “To my knowledge, he was going to just register his ticket and get on the flight but for whatever reason he never took the flight. His bags weren’t registered, and he never checked in,” Antwon said. “So what we’re thinking is he could possibly be floating around the airport or something, but again, that’s the last we’ve seen of him.”
Antwon also shared that Elijah suffers from mental illness and was reluctant to return home to France after spending time in Chicago. “Everything seemed pretty normal the first eight days, but the last two days his whole mood had swung, and he was really adamant about not going back home. He didn’t want to go home,” he explained.
Chicago police have officially reported Elijah missing and are reviewing surveillance footage around O’Hare Airport. According to his father, Elijah’s phone has been off since Friday evening, and he doesn’t have much money to sustain himself for more than a few days on his own.
The family is now hoping anyone around the airport might help locate him. “Obviously, when you have a missing child, it’s all unsettling, but I’m not the type of guy that’s going to be nervous or overreact until we have more information,” Antwon said.
Elijah is about 6’3″ tall and weighs approximately 220 pounds. He was last seen wearing a brown hoodie. Anyone who may have seen him is urged to contact Chicago Police.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/elijah-hoard-missing-being-dropped-off-chicago-ohare-international-airport-did-not-board-flight-france-family-says/18665722/