Family was worried when GA man missed sister’s birthday. Weeks later his car is found

Diontae Roberson’s family knew something was wrong when he didn’t call for his sister’s or his niece’s birthdays.

The 32-year-old was last seen in a suburban neighborhood of Savannah, Georgia on Aug. 11, and investigators found his car, a Mercury Grand Marquis, abandoned in the southern part of the city around Sept. 22, according to the Savannah Police Department.

Police held a news conference on Sept. 22 with members of Roberson’s family to ask the public for help finding him, according to WTOC11.

“I’m asking and pleading with anyone that knows something, anything, to say something to us,” Roberson’s mother, Kathleen Funkhouser, said during the conference.

His family members described him during the news conference as a goofy, fun-loving, talented person, who never would have abandoned his family.

“Diontae was my first best friend, and we’ve been inseparable our entire lives,” his sister said. “I knew something was wrong when he didn’t call on my daughter(‘s) or on my birthday.”

A Savannah police officer told reporters at the news conference that investigators believe something may have happened to Roberson in the city.

“It’s very possible that he is deceased,” he said. “We want to locate Diontae and bring him back to his family.”

Funkhouser said she still hadn’t come to terms with the possibility that her son is dead.

“I wake up every morning and send a text to his phone, every night leaving a video to just… to sound like I’m talking to him,” she said, fighting through tears. “I wish I could tell him more. I wish I could say more. But he’s ours.”

Police are asking anyone with information to call the Savannah Police Department’s crime tip line at 912-525-3124, the special victims unit at 912-651-6742 or the Savannah-Chatham CrimeStoppers at 912-234-2020. Those wishing to submit anonymous tips can also fill out the form at the following link: https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=757

The CrimeStoppers are offering a reward of $2,500 and the Savannah police are willing to offer additional money to those who come forward with information that leads to Roberson’s discovery, according to the police department.

This story was originally published September 28, 2022 at 3:10 PM with the headline "Family was worried when GA man missed sister’s birthday. Weeks later his car is found."