POND GAP, W.Va. – A Clay County man last seen Monday, after leaving his home is still missing. The West Virginia State Police are asking anyone with information into the whereabouts of Joel William Finch, 55, of Pond Gap, to contact law enforcement.
“If you see him, approach him and let him know that he’s been reported as a missing person and then call your nearest detachment of the West Virginia State Police or 911 and let them know he’s been located,” said State Police spokesman Lt. Michael Baylous.
Those close to Finch said he left his home to ask about a job in Dunbar. He had his dog with him and was wearing jeans, a gray-hooded sweatshirt and boots.
Baylous said considering the frigid weather we’ve dealt with over the past few nights, it is very important to locate Finch.
“It’s been extremely cold and it’s not weather you’d want to be out traveling in, especially on foot.”
Baylous said there’s a chance Finch stopped at a friend’s house to wait out the bad weather and just hasn’t checked in with anyone. However, State Police are following up on a tip that Finch was seen Thursday morning in McDowell County near the Kentucky state line.
Baylous stressed the more people that know about Finch and his disappearance, the better chance they’ll have of finding him.
“We’ll just have to hope that this continues to get out there and someone will recognize him and know where he is,” said Baylous.