'Maybe it's a cult': Family fears for Australian man missing in the US
A family concerned for a Sydney man missing in the US fears he may have joined a cult.
John Regan, 34, flew to San Francisco in November 2018 to attend an online self-meditation course after battling cancer, the ABC reports.
Once he arrived in Washington DC, his family said calls to them became infrequent and he even missed his sister’s wedding.
He was meant to return by Christmas but extended his stay,
His mum Anne told the ABC she received a text message from him in February but fears someone else may have been impersonating him.
"I want you to know I'm safe and doing fine," it read.
"Like Superman, I've needed to find my temple of solitude… please trust that I am well and that I know what I'm doing."
Mr Regan’s sister Jessica fears he’s joined a cult or a sect. His mother shared the same theory with US media outlet NBC 4.
His aunt Rhonda Hatton wrote on Facebook that Mr Regan was meant to show for his sister’s wedding in February.
“Some might think we are jumping the gun – he is a 33-year-old man probably having a good time,” she wrote.
“But he promised to be home for the wedding and more of a concern – he has not touched his bank account since mid December. I would presume if he is travelling he would be accessing his money and does not have a credit card.”
‘No signs’ he would disappear
Ms Hatton added her nephew was in touch with a woman named Sara Singha.
Ms Singha is a Georgetown University post-doctoral fellow at the Berkley Centre for Religion, Peace and World Affairs.
She told NBC 4 she’s not sure where Mr Regan is but confirmed she had spoken with him. She said he was “going to meet some friends” when she last saw him in January.
Troy Dodds, the editor of newspaper Western Weekender, wrote in his editorial in June a desperate appeal to find Mr Regan.
“The last time I saw John it was over a Chinese meal and a movie,” Dodds wrote.
“He was in good spirits and showed no signs that he would intentionally disappear.”
According to NBC 4, the family has hired private investigator George Kucik to find Mr Regan.
Mr Kucik told the station he’s not going to force Mr Regan to come home but the family holds concerns for his welfare.
“The family wants to know, is he OK? Is he wherever he is on his own volition?” Mr Kucik said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to Yahoo News Australia that they were providing assistance “to the family of an Australian man who is reported missing in the United States”.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we will not provide further comment,” the spokesperson said.
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