The family of Colby Richards rejoiced when searchers found the 31-year-old Texas man 10 days after he disappeared. A large-scale search had been underway for more than a week when volunteers found Richards just 3 miles from his home in the Woodlands near Houston. But the circumstances around the father of two's disappearance remain a mystery.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office issued a release Saturday stating that Richards was found alive but gave very few additional details. He was reportedly evaluated by medics and a Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Mental Health Unit. But as far as what prompted him to leave his home with nothing? No one knows yet.
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Richards got out of bed early on May 26.
Allison Fox, Richards' cousin, spoke on behalf of the family in late May, explaining that he got out of bed around 5 a.m. and never returned, Fox News reported. His wife, Callie Richards, felt something was wrong and went to find him, but he seemed to have completely disappeared. His keys, wallet, and cellphone were left behind, and their back gate was open. Panicked, she called the police and reported him missing.
Richards' family was instantly concerned, and his wife told Fox 26 that these behaviors were out of character. She said he was in good health and a loving husband and father. The couple's two children knew what was happening with their father, and everyone was frightened.
"My daughter knows," she shared with Fox 26. "Initially, we tried to keep it quiet until we could get more information, but she knows. She's been asking questions, like morbid questions. She's very smart. She's very aware of what's going on. My son has been leeching to me," she told the news outlet.
Police and volunteers organized a search.
The Texas community immediately began an enormous search in partnership with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Allison Fox created a Facebook group dedicated to the investigation that has since been deleted. After days of searching, police found a water bottle on a trail near Richards' home but no other solid leads and called off the search on May 31.
Richards was found on June 2.
The Daily Mail reported that a group of volunteers found the missing father malnourished, deteriorated, and disheveled. Jake Stovall was a leader in the rescue efforts and told the newspaper that Richards, who worked as an engineer and a part-time baseball coach, didn't seem like he wanted to be found.
"He was coherent, but very dizzy and had a depleted mental state,' Stovall said.
According to rescuers, Richards seemed afraid and was hiding. It is unclear how he survived; no one discovered any kind of shelter, and he did not appear to have water or food.
Speculation about why Richards left continues to flood social media.
Fox has since deleted the search group's Facebook page, where many had commented about the missing person's case. A release from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office triggered many responses.
"I sure prayed about this one when he first went missing. It's very interesting though. We are owed ZERO details," one comment reads. "It's none of my business, but it makes my imagination run wild with questions!!!! So glad he was found!"
"Maybe he had a small stroke and didn't remember who he was or where he lives BUT this is a long time with no food or water," another person wrote.
Another commenter wrote, "Let me ask a question here? WWJD? AMEN!
We as humans should be Praying & Not Judging, Period! We do Not know what happened. Please, just spread the Love!"
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Then, of course, there were those making accusations.
"I am glad he was found safe, but I willing to put money he was cheating and sick of his wife," wrote one follower of the story.
One commenter made a lengthy post asking for details that read in part, "There are a lot of open questions, but the family has deleted their information page. For anyone who donated to their GoFundMe or participated in the search, will they get an explanation as to what ultimately happened? I think it's important that the public who was brought so publicly into the search be given a full, accurate wrap up, so everyone can know what occurred. Especially if it's a public safety issue, versus a private family crisis."
A GoFundMe page Fox set up gave a brief update on Richards' condition.
"He is now admitted to the hospital undergoing medical treatment. He is severely dehydrated and without food for a week and is suffering medical effects of both circumstances. Once he is physically recovered and released from the hospital, he will be admitted to an inpatient mental health facility to help him recover and regain mental stability," Fox wrote on the page.
The sheriff's office noted it would be some time before Richards is questioned about his disappearance.
