Maurice James Update: Search Party Begins for Missing Bayview Man

Maurice James

​Friends of 29-year-old Maurice James, also known as Mo, have started combing the coastline, looking for the Bayview man who was last seen Sunday night before he may have left for the beach the next morning.

James' roommate last saw him that night before going to sleep. He never showed up to a scheduled massage the next morning and he hasn't been at work since. On Wednesday, his frantic roommate started calling around to see if anyone had heard from James. "We just got worried and now we're freaking out," says Skyler Williams, who would hang out with James about once a week.

Yesterday, police issued a missing-person bulletin, asking anyone who might have seen James to call immediately. Meanwhile, his friends, who are more like his family, are organizing their own search parties, looking for the man they say is always "superbubbly."

Police said that James was thought to be depressed, and his friends said he might have gone to the beach, where he "liked to focus." However, Williams told us he was very surprised to hear that his friend was down. "I know he wanted a boyfriend, but it was not that big of a deal," Williams told us. "But he doesn't come off [as depressed], he is bubbly, happy, and always smiling -- if you feel bad, you'll feel better when you see him."

His friends started a Facebook page, "Mo Where Did You Go?" People have been posting updates and wellwishes over the last 24 hours. They've even gotten some tips.

A woman said she might have seen someone who looks like James near the cliffs at Baker Beach on Monday or Tuesday. His wallet and cellphone were found inside his apartment.

According to the Facebook page:

Just a quick update. We have a strong lead to follow tomorrow. We will be searching Mile Point near Navy Memorial. Anyone that is free to help out with the search, print some flyers, talk to people, and look along the rocks for that beautiful man we miss so much. Good luck and let's find him soon.

The last person to hear from James was his ex-fiancé, who received an e-mail from him via his iPod Touch on Monday morning.

There is a $2,500 reward for any information leading to his safe return. Anyone with information about James should contact SFPD at 415-553-0123 or the missing persons' unit at 415-558-5508. His case number is 110619408.

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