Organized search continues for missing father of 2 in Crown Point

CROWN POINT, Ind. (WLS) -- The family of missing Indiana man Michael Hernandez remains desperate for answers after an organized search has turned up nothing more than buried fish.

Over 100 people showed up for the search, which started Thursday morning at the Old Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point. Searchers then headed south to Demotte, Ind., the last location pinged by his phone and where there was a reported sighting of his 2008 Scion.

"My heart breaks for every one of them because we want him home," said Becky Sanchez, a volunteer searcher.

The 23-year-old father of twin girls has not been seen or heard from since leaving The Square, a bar in Crown Point, around 11 p.m. Friday night.

"I pray that we find him alive, I'm asking that God guide our steps," said Abby Delrio, a community resident.

"He loves his family, he loves his mom especially and I just can't see how he could have just taken off and not called or anything like that," said Armando Sanchez, a family friend.

Hernandez's mother says the night of his disappearance, he called to say he would be home shortly, but has not been seen since. When he didn't show up to work and a scheduled visit with his children Saturday, his father called police.

"I believe that he's been abducted, someone has him, he's in a garage or he's in a basement somewhere and he just can't reach out to nobody," said Lorenzo Longoria, Hernandez's father.

Friends say Hernandez has been a top-performing car salesman whose disappearance doesn't add up as they hope for the best while trying to prepare for the worst.

"It is overwhelming to see the support," said Jay Callaway, the missing man's father-in-law.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by friends and family to raise money for a reward. Anyone with information regarding Hernandez's whereabouts should contact Lake County sheriff's police at (219) 755-3334.