Missing Oxford man found

Photo:

FOUND — Gene Stanley Burns, Jr., 24, of Oxford, who went missing on Saturday, February 23, has been found. According to Oxford Police Lieutenant Michael Ward, Burns called the Oxford police station Tuesday evening around 9 p.m. to say he was in Abington, MA. 

OXFORD — A 24-year-old Oxford man who went missing Saturday night was found in Abington, MA on Tuesday evening, reported Oxford Police Lieutenant Michael Ward.

Gene Stanley Burns, Jr., 24, was last seen by a witness walking toward Mechanic Falls after crashing his vehicle on Robinson Hill Road in Oxford just a half-mile from his house, Ward said. 

At approximately 9 p.m. Tuesday, Burns called the police station to reveal where he was after receiving a text message from Ward saying "call us."

On Wednesday morning, Ward said Burns told him he was unsure how he got there [to Abington]. 

"But I haven't had the chance to speak to him, so I haven't heard that first-hand," Ward said. He expected to interview Burns some time Wednesday. 

Ward said Burns' mother had driven down to Massachusetts Tuesday night to find her son and bring him home.

"Other people were helping us trying to find him," Ward said. 

Police spent six or more hours on Tuesday doing an "extensive search" on Robinson Hill Road and its surrounding areas in hopes to turn up evidence of Burns' whereabouts, Ward said. 

He said the Maine Warden Service assisted Oxford Police with search dogs Tuesday. The search crew was made up of eight wardens, three state troopers, three Oxford PD officers, a search plane and a K-9 unit. 

According to Ward, a search of this kind can cost several thousand dollars. 

Ward said he unsure if there will be any charges as the case is still under investigation. "I need to talk to him," Ward said. 

According to Ward, Burns was driving toward Mechanic Falls on Saturday night when his vehicle, a black, 2004 Saturn Ion, left the road, went through a snowbank and crashed into some trees, damaging the front end. 

"He was in an accident and no one had seen him since," Ward said Tuesday. 

"When Sergeant [Rickie] Jack got there [Saturday], nobody was there. The vehicle was locked up," Ward explained. 

Ward said police received the call around 7:30 p.m., Saturday.

"We figured that he would go home and then just call us," Ward said earlier this week.

"We tried to call him [Saturday]. He didn't go home," Ward explained. According to Ward, Burns had not shown up to work since and his bank account showed that he had not done any financial transactions since the accident.