BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
EDISON — Have you seen Thomas Roach?
The Edison Police Department and Roach’s family are enlisting the public’s help in finding Roach, 52, who was last seen on July 10 after he was discharged from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital on Rehill Avenue in Somerville.
Roach is described as a white man, 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a fair complexion and brown-graying hair and blue eyes. He has a birthmark over his left eye, according to police.
His description has been distributed to other law enforcement agencies.
Roach last made contact with his family members on June 2 when he told them he planned to check himself into a substance abuse rehabilitation program. Police said Roach is an alcoholic and he is believed to be addicted to oxycodone.
Roach’s vehicle, containing his personal belongings, was found in the hospital’s parking lot soon after his hospital discharge on July 10. Police examined video from the hospital’s security cameras to no avail, detectives said.
“Ordinarily, Mr. Roach is very close with his family and friends,” said Police Detective Jeff Tierney, who is leading the investigation into Roach’s disappearance. “They are understandably concerned with his whereabouts and his well-being. We hope that enlisting the public’s assistance will further our investigation.”
On previous occasions, police said they have arranged for Roach to be transported at his request to medical facilities for evaluation after he expressed feelings of depression and thoughts of suicide.
Police also noted Roach is an amateur sportsman and owns a registered Bauer .25-caliber handgun. Police said they do not know if he was in possession of that weapon at the time of his disappearance.
His family made a website seeking the public’s help at www.facebook.com/HelpFindThomasRoach with additional photographs and details.
Anyone with information about Roach or his whereabouts should contact Detective Jeff Tierney at 732-261-3188 or jtierney@edisonpd.org.
