Wisconsin man goes missing from DeKalb on Christmas

By ALAN EDRINN

DeKalb Police are searching for a missing Wisconsin man last seen in DeKalb the night of Dec. 25.

James C. Verduin, 56, of Wauwatosa, Wis., was last seen by a clerk at the Best Western Inn & Suites, 1212 W. Lincoln Highway, where he was taken after being involved in a one-vehicle accident earlier that day, according to a DeKalb Police Department news release. Verduin’s car was towed from the accident on Interstate 88 near DeKalb.

On Dec. 27, a Best Western employee contacted Verduin’s family asking them to pick up belongings he had left behind. Verduin never checked out of the room and left behind property including clothes and his cell phone, said DeKalb Police Lt. Gary Spangler.

“Nothing in his room indicates where he went, what he did or how he got there,” Spangler said.

Police conducted a large ground search on Dec. 31, according to the release. No foul play is suspected.

DeKalb Police are looking for financial activity that could show where Verduin is, but have found no activity of any type from him, Spangler said. Police checked numerous hospitals for Verduin’s location, he said, and are staying in close contact with Verduin’s family, friends and coworkers.

Investigators believe Verduin could have health issues that caused him to wander from the hotel, according to the release.

Another ground search was planned for the weekend of Jan. 9, but was postponed because of weather, Spangler said. Property owners are encouraged to check any abandoned buildings.

Verduin is a white male, 6 feet 1 inch tall, about 200 pounds, with gray hair, blue eyes and glasses. He was last seen wearing blue pants and either a green coat or a long tan trench coat.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the DeKalb Police Department at (815)748-8400.