Nearly two weeks since his disappearance on April 15, Chuejee Thao from St. Paul, a junior at Highland Park High School, is still missing.
Based on recently recovered footage, Thao was last seen at 2:50 p.m. on Monday, on Robert Street bridge. He is 17 years old, and described as being 5’6″ and 120 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. He is Hmong American. Thao was reportedly wearing a green hooded sweatshirt, dark jeans, and may have been carrying a black satchel or messenger bag at the time. He was not carrying any money or form of identification on his person. Family members believe that Thao may have been at risk of harming himself.
“It’s out of character for him to not check in with his family, to not come home after school and he left some personal items at home he usually carries with him, so everyone’s really concerned about his well being,” Steve Linders, a St. Paul police spokesman, told the Pioneer Press.
Thao’s family set up a GoFundMe campaign along with a Facebook page entitled Hope for Chuejee, which offers detailed updates regarding the search. In addition, family members have been organizing search parties, comprising community members, to look for Thao in the Twin Cities area.
“Since Chuejee has been missing, my heart has been so heavy and has gone through a roller coaster of emotions, as has everyone in my family. There have been many days when I just wanted to break down and cry, or days when I wanted to scream at everybody. But it is through everyone’s support that my family and I have been able to keep hope alive that we will find Chuejee, regardless of what has happened to him,” Pa Kou Thao, Thao’s sister, asserts in the description of the fundraiser.
The family has considered spiritual means to locate Thao as well.
“…We have done everything we could spiritually. We had a Hmong shaman look into his condition and whereabouts, we did psychic readings, shaman rituals, and offerings to the spirits for guidance,” said Toumoua Thao, one of Thao’s siblings, “Only thing we know is that my brother is still with us.”
St. Paul Police request anyone who has seen Thao or has information about his whereabouts to call them at 651-291-1111.
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