The national spotlight has turned towards the search for a missing Kentucky man, Ricky Griffis, who hasn’t been seen in nearly a year.
CrimeOnline’s Nancy Grace will be highlighting the search for Griffis on “Crime Stories” Friday, joined by special guests that include the owner of the Cajun Coast Search and Rescue Team, Toney Wade.
Wade and his team arrived earlier this month in Kentucky and so far, have searched around 50 miles, including in caves around Southern Kentucky.
“Nancy has been a friend of mine for many years. When I called her about it last week, she jumped on it,” Wade told WKYT. “I think in a missing person case, the more publicity a case gets, the more helpful it is. The more leads come in. The more tips come in.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Griffis’s last conversation, who was reported missing on July 5, 2022, still remains vivid in his mother Alice Mabe’s memory, according to what she told ABC 36.
Mabe said she asked Ricky if he would be coming home that night but he responded with a “no.”
“Every day gets tougher because we’ve exhausted all our efforts. However, we have entrusted the situation to a higher power, and progress is beginning to unfold,” she said.
According to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Griffis’s last known whereabouts were in the Burnside area. Police found his car, phone, and wallet near a strip mine in Coopersville.
There sheriff’s office also said they later discovered strange text messages but Mabe said the family never received any text messages past his final text on July 4. The family added that a note in his car indicated that he may have been at the Cove Bar & Grill on July 4.
Mabe said Ricky started battling alcohol and painkiller dependency after a near-fatal accident led to him various drugs. He later sought rehabilitation and successfully embarked on the path to recovery before his disappearance.
Although she feels her son disappeared due to foul play, Mabe told WKYT she’s grateful that CCSRT has joined in to help search for him.
“They read her post and our post. It touched their heart. They wanted to gather their stuff and come look for Ricky,” she said.
Meanwhile, Wade said it’s possible that their crew could search for other missing people in the area while they are in Kentucky.
Griffis is described as a white male who stands 6 feet tall and weighs around 180 pounds. He has brown hair and eyes. Anyone with information on Griffis is urged to contact the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office or Monticello-Wayne County 911.
To learn more about the case, visit the “Justice for Ricky Griffis” Facebook page. Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Feature Photo: Handout]
