‘Sipho’ exploits desperate search for missing man, demands thousands from family for his safe return
BRAD NATHANSON
Social media is a gift and a curse, but beware the troll-infested waters.
This young man, Mitchel William Adam, was last seen leaving a well-known late-night establishment in Gillitts, Durban, KZN on Friday night/Saturday morning July 26/27. He was seen getting into his car around midnight before heading home to Shongweni. He was not seen or heard from again.
A friend of this office got Brad Nathanson Investigations involved on Saturday afternoon July 27 but it was as if Mitchel’s vehicle had simply vanished.
A search along the route/s he may have travelled yielded nothing and then at around 5pm the second worst call a parent can receive was a call from a man who identified himself as “Sipho” and who told the family representative that “they” had Mitchel and his car which they described, all information that would have been available on social media via flyers sent out by friends and family of Mitchel but how do you know as a parent especially when this call has brought you hope? Sipho warned the family “no police”.
When asked for proof of life, Sipho told the family that Mitchel was in another car, away from his phone. Sipho wanted R30 000 for the safe return of Mitchel. There were lots of threats by Sipho as to what they were going to do with Mitchel if the family didn’t pay. Sipho toyed with them.
Badly for Sipho and sadly for the Mitchel family, at around 10pm they received the worst call a parent can receive and this is the one to say that your son has been involved in a car accident and his wounds were fatal.
Long after the body of this young man was identified by the family, Sipho was still calling/WhatsApping/voicenoting and threatening the family, claiming to have Mitchel in their custody.
This is an ongoing SAPS investigation but you will not be surprised to know that the call came from a burner SIM.
When we were still able to triangulate/ping phones, before the tragic murder of Colonel Kinnear, we used to ping these callers mostly to Diepkloof Prison.
I have personally received calls from inmates and their caller ID identifies them as a member of the SAPS.
How can we trust anything these days?
People wonder why I always put my contact details on a flyer generated by my office. It’s not because I’m lonely, it’s to spare clients the pain of having to be made to believe that their child has been kidnapped. To ward off the vultures.
Mitchel was alone in his car. No foul play is suspected other than the callous and unlawful behaviour of Sipho who also wasted valuable SAPS time and resources. This too is a crime.
RIP Mitchel William Adam, aged 34. This phone rang often and even from abroad when first you were reported missing. I did not know you but it seemed that you were well-liked and will therefore be sorely missed. My sincere condolences to the living.
Brad Nathanson is a private investigator and owner of Brad Nathanson Investigations for commercial, domestic and criminal investigations.
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