SPECTRUM: Please help find my brother

His name is Keith Amuavae. Because he stands out at 5’8, 380 pounds, you and I would naturally think it difficult for him to go missing for more than two weeks. Unfortunately, as his sister, I am challenged with finding him because that is exactly what happened - he is missing.

It doesn't help that my brother is a vulnerable person. He is schizophrenic, meaning bipolar. He suffers from manic-depressive disorder.

The last sighting of my brother, Keith, was on October 19th at his apartment complex in Palmer. His disappearance is very unusual for Keith, as he is a homebody and rarely leaves his residence for more than a couple of hours at a time, let alone a couple of days.

Normally, I keep up with my brother through social media, which he appears to always be on. His last social media posting was Oct. 19, the day of his disappearance.

Our family filed a missing person's report to the Wasilla police department Oct. 27, due to the fact that when we went looking for him, his residence door was unlocked. Everything of value to him was present. This feeds into our panic, because the items we found are what Keith considered must have objects. We joke how he always always has those things with him at all times.

We noticed that the police haven’t really helped us. Our family hasn’t received any evidence that the Valley police are conducting an investigation. The only activity towards finding Keith is coming from us family members. We are the ones talking to neighbors, friends and asking for help to find our loved on using social media.

Seeking to cover all bases, our family extended the scope of our search to the Lower 48. There is an “authority to locate” out on him, which means if he is found by any law enforcement agency within the U.S, they are instructed to call Alaska right away.

Locally, we have called all hospitals, jails, and the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API). Keith is unknown to any of those locations. Each of those places have a directive to give us a call right away if they make contact with him.

We have conducted search efforts every day since Oct. 27, posting fliers in and around the Anchorage, Eagle River & Mat-Su areas.

It is our understanding that the police are not able to assist us without a defined area to start searches, however, we are urging law enforcement to assist us in obtaining phone records and bank statements, so that we can triangulate his last known location.

Our family’s appeal for help has inspired the Alaska Investigation Agency, LLC to take the lead on the investigation. We graciously thank them for their much-appreciated efforts.

The plan is, by using phone and bank records, we can define a searchable area and begin conducting specific, organized searches for Keith.

In the meantime, community volunteers known for their successful searches have reached out and offered their assistance with searching for our dear brother. There are too many to name however we want to thank a few who have made an impact: Floyd Hall with the A-Team in Anchorage, Daniel Alcock with his team based out of the Valley, the Guardian Search and Investigations (GSI) team in the Ma-Su Valley and several local pilots: Nick Morris, Bernie Somerville and Tim Sitter. We would also like to thank the rest of our community members who have come out and assist us with our search efforts.

As an active effort, we desperately ask all willing to pass out the missing person's fliers and share the thumbnail all over social media. That way, it becomes known that we are looking for him.

We ask that community members not knock on anyone's doors outside of a structured search under our direction, because we want you all to remain safe.

There is an anonymous tip line set up by the Alaska Investigation Agency, LLC anyone with a possible sighting can call: 907-290-5668.

Words cannot express how grateful we are in regards to the outpouring of support we have received thus far from our community. Please know that you are all appreciated.

"Fa’afetai Lava, Fa’amanuia le atua" - Thank you and may God bless you.