Concerned family gathers as Horry County police search Aynor area for missing man

Family and friends of a man who has been missing for a week gathered in the Aynor area where he was last seen as Horry County police searched nearby woods Friday looking for answers.

Randy M. Davis, 26, of Conway was reported missing Jan. 23 after leaving a home on Marshland Road and hasn’t made contact with family since, police said.

“This is not like Randy not to contact some of his family or friends,” his mother Loretta Davis said. “He’s a good person,” she said of her son who is also the father of two young children.

Davis disappeared “under suspicious circumstances,” according to Lt. Raul Denis with Horry County Police, who said he could not provide more details on the circumstances.

A group of detectives and officers searched the wooded area near the Marshland Road home that a resident and Randy Davis’ friend, Natalie Smith, said he ran out of in a panic, supposedly after seeing headlights and claiming someone was looking for him.

“We’re just hoping and praying this is not a bad outcome,” Loretta Davis said. “I have cried and cried.”

Some of Davis’ family and friends expressed anxiety and anguish as they waited for answers at the edge of the search Friday and said they suspected something was amiss because it was not like Davis to go without contacting friends or family for so long.

Family members said he would usually contact them daily.

The concerned group said they’ve searched the area themselves almost every day since Davis went missing and have found a hoodie, but don’t know if it belongs to Davis.

“If anyone has information on Randy, please come forward and let us know,” his mother said.

Davis’ younger sister, Kristie Davis, tearfully talked about the past week without her brother.

“It’s been hard, and thinking about if something has happened to him, we just don’t know how we’re going to explain that to his kids,” she said.

After hours of working through the muddy area against a windy chill on foot and all-terrain vehicles, Horry County police wrapped the search, but declined to say if they found anything as of 3 p.m. Friday. Police said they could not comment on the status of the case Friday afternoon.

Randy Davis had been arrested several times last fall in connection with minor charges including possession of marijuana, driving under the influence and shoplifting, according to J. Reuben Long Detention records.

Horry County public index records also show Davis has a court date Thursday .

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 10:24 AM with the headline "Concerned family gathers as Horry County police search Aynor area for missing man."