By David Lohr

December 28, 2006

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CHICAGO, Ill.  (Crime Library) —  Earlier this month, I brought you the story of Jesse Ross, a 20-year-old University of Missouri sophomore, who vanished on Nov. 21.  Jesse was last seen attending a model United Nations conference in downtown Chicago.  According to Jesse's father, the status of the case remains unchanged.  "Unfortunately, there have been no new breaks that we are aware of," Ross said.  "The police in Chicago have had a helicopter working the shoreline down into Indiana.  The reward fund is getting bigger, we hope to get access, so we can provide information to the police as soon as possible."

After my first story on this case was published, I received an email from a woman who brought a similar case to my attention.  Within her email, she described the mysterious disappearance and subsequent discovery of her son-in-law, Matthew Soumakis.  Interestingly enough, the man had been staying at the same hotel where Jesse Ross was last seen.

On Dec. 5, 2005, Matthew Soumakis, 31, walked out of the Sheraton Chicago Hotel at 301 E. North Water Street and never returned.  According to police reports, Matthew was a Massachusetts native, who was in town for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Meeting.  When he failed to check in or show up for his scheduled appointment at the hotel, his wife called the Chicago police and reported him missing.

"Matt's such a reliable person — a great friend; a great husband.  It just doesn't make sense," friend Tom Boyle told CBS 2 Chicago.  "He's not the kind of guy that would just not show up, not get on a plane, not call his wife - he's got a pregnant wife at home... something's not right."

When investigators searched Matthew's hotel room, they found his laptop, luggage and other personal belongings.  A review of the hotel's surveillance system showed Matthew leaving the building on Dec. 5th, at approximately 7:49 in the morning.  Where he went and what happened after that is up for speculation.   

Cbs2chicago.com reported that he may have been spotted drinking at a bar across the street from the Sheraton early on the morning of December 6th in the company of a white man with hair and beard.

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Contact  David Lohr at           crimewriter74@hughes.net

No Clues in Disappearance of University of Missouri Student Jesse Ross

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