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The father of an Oak Park man, missing since Aug. 18, says his son suffers from schizophrenia and may have recently “slacked off” on taking nutritional supplements which are key to his well-being. Doug Cater said he has had no contact with his 38-year-old son, Evan, since he left the family home on the 500 block of S. Elmwood Ave. in the middle of the night, nearly two weeks ago.
The elder Cater said his son is a computer programmer who had been “functioning very, very well on his job.” Doug Cater said his son had recently received a commendation from his employer for his work improving software used in grading standardized tests. He said his son felt “somewhat anxious” during the software development process and that such anxiety sometimes led to “episodes” where he became “disoriented and impulsive.”
Oak Park police are asking for help in locating Cater who left the house without his wallet, keys, cellphone or medication. “He had nothing with him that would facilitate him getting anywhere or doing anything,” said his father.
Cater is 6 feet tall, approximately 220 pounds, and was last seen wearing a dark-colored polo shirt, khaki shorts and white sneakers.
A report issued by the Oak Park police said that Cater may be disoriented, and his condition may worsen without his medication.
Oak Park Police Det. Sgt. Michael Richardson said this is not the first time Cater has gone missing. He disappeared once in 2006 and again in 2010. He was located once in Wisconsin and once in downtown Chicago. But he’s never before been gone for more than five days.
“He has been missing in the past, but now it’s been 12 days and he has not been heard from,” Richardson said Monday. “We’re just looking for any assistance we can get from the public.”
Anyone with information about Cater’s disappearance should call the Oak Park Police Department at 708-386-3800.
Oak Park Police Special Bulletin
