Winston Swiney is seeking answers in finding his son, Steven, who reportedly went missing from his residence in the Bagdad area of Milton last November.
Winston, who currently lives and works in Chattanooga, Tennessee, spent last weekend searching for any information on the whereabouts of his 47 year-old son. Steven was last seen by his two roommates at their mobile home residence, according to Winston. Winston said the roommates told him his son had left the residence to walk towards a nearby convenience store located on Garcon Point Road. Winston said the roommates informed him Steven regularly walked through a wooded area in order to reach the destination.
Although Steven was last seen on Nov. 7, the father said he was not notified by Steven’s roommates until November 25th through a phone call. Steven’s cell phone and blood-thinning medication were left at the mobile home prior to leaving the mobile home.
In addition to being suspicious of the roommates, Winston also believes his son’s health may have played a part into his disappearance.
“I am also suspicious of his health, being that he may have gone through these woods and had a little bit of a health issue and could not get any help,” Winston said. “Something either happened in the house or in those woods.”
Winston contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office on the matter and has submitted a statement to the investigators for a missing person’s report.
Rich Aloy, the SRSO public information officer, said the case is currently active and investigators are following up on leads as they develop. Aloy asks anyone with information pertaining to the case are asked to contact the sheriff’s office.
Over the course of the weekend, Winston spent what time he could investigating his son’s disappearance by speaking to his roommates, searching through the wooded area his son would have traveled on foot and asking if anyone around the area has seen Steven.
“I have run up against a brick wall everywhere I go,” Winston said. “Something has happened to him.”
No suspicious activity has been reported with Steven’s banking activities, according to Winston.
Winston said he is looking for closure in finding his son. Although the father and son relationship was not on the best of terms before his disappearance, Winston still wants closure.
Winston said Steven was adopted with his sister, Robin by Winston and his former wife Marjorie. Marjorie and Winston eventually divorced.
He said Marjorie died in 2011. Robin previously took care of Steven until she became diagnosed with Stage four cancer. Winston said Robin stayed with him in Tennessee until her death this past August.
“With my daughter, I have gotten an understanding and I can come to terms with that, because I know what happened. Here, I don’t know what happened,” Winston said.
Steven Swiney is described as being around six feet tall with a thin build, weighing around 140 pounds. He was seen sporting shoulder length salt and pepper colored hair. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Swiney is asked to contact the SRSO at 983-1100.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Father searches for missing son