NORTH WEBSTER — Instead of celebrating Joseph Chaffins’ 29th birthday on Friday, family and friends gathered Saturday for a vigil in hopes that information about his disappearance nearly three years ago would be brought to their attention.

Chaffins was last seen walking along Backwater Road in North Webster, and about two dozen people met Saturday afternoon at the Backwater Webster boat launch to call attention to his disappearance.

White balloons inscribed with the phrase “You are loved, you are missed, you are remembered” and accompanied by a card with information about Joseph, were released during a somber event late Saturday afternoon.

Among those attending were Chaffin's mother, Shelby, and his two siblings, Talena and Brad.

Family members say he disappeared essentially without a trace and left behind a vehicle he owned.

Police have looked into several leads, but those have led to nothing of significance.

A prayer was read aloud at the Backwater Webster boat launch down the road from where Joseph was last seen: 

“You are the Alpha and the Omega. You know everything that is done in darkness. We ask that you shed light on this. We ask that you help the family with their pain, their sorrow, and we ask that you bring comfort.”

Joseph's mother asked for the public's help.

“If anybody has any news or anything, something you have remembered … just please let us know so we can bring him home,” Shelby Chaffins said. “We miss him. We love him and he matters. We’ll never stop.”

Kosciusko County made another public plea earlier this year seeking any information about Chaffin's disappearance.

A Facebook page titled Find Joseph Chaffins has also been created.

[caption id="attachment_115943" align="aligncenter" width="782"] Saturday's event included a balloon release. The balloons included information about Joseph Chaffins, who was last seen nearly three years ago. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The post Vigil calls attention to disappearance of North Webster man nearly three years ago appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW -- Warsaw Police Department is urgently trying to identify a special needs person found walking in a roadway Saturday morning.

He's a white man who is six foot, two inches tall, heavyset and nonverbal.

His name might be something like John Albaugh. He appears to be in his late 20s or early 30s, the post said.

He was seen on SR 15 and CR 400N area, walking in the roadway and lying in grass.

He was not wearing shoes, blue gym shorts and a blue sweatshirt.

A post on the Warsaws Police Facebook page said they've exhausted all standard options in trying to identify the man and are seeking the public's help.

Anyone with insight is asked to call 574-372-9511.

The post Warsaw police trying to identify special needs man found north of city appeared first on News Now Warsaw.