By Charlotte Aguilar
Police Chief Ken Walker told the news media Monday that the disappearance of a West University resident last Wednesday appears to be “pre-planned” instead of a case of foul play, and that investigators have requested subpoenas for the man’s financial and phone records.
Authorities have been searching for Brett Detamore, 38, since his wife reported him missing about four hours after his vehicle was photographed leaving the city by one of West U’s perimeter security cameras at 4:21 a.m. June 21.
“He was not following anyone, and no one was following him,” said Walker.
“At this time we have absolutely no information that would indicate that foul play was involved,” said the chief. “We do have some information that indicates it may have been pre-planned with no crime involved, but it’s way too early to come to that conclusion now”
Detamore’s vehicle, a pricey new bright yellow Dodge Ram truck with personalized plates, was next seen about two hours after he left the city, ablaze in Bear Creek Park, 20 miles northwest of West U. Walker said West U investigators intend to interview the person who saw a man walking away from the burning vehicle.
Despite destruction of most identifying markers on the truck, a Houston police investigator was able to locate a hidden vehicle identification number which linked it to Detamore, according to the chief.
WUPD investigators combed the location for evidence, he said, and were joined by law enforcement officers from Harris County Precinct 1 and 5 constables’ offices, HPD and Texas Equusearch Thursday and Friday in an unfruitful search of the park for evidence or other eyewitnesses.
Walker indicated that the news conference was largely in response to social media misinformation. “That’s why we’re here today — to try to put out what we have, which isn’t much at this point.” He said investigators must also be careful not to reveal too much, knowing “that any possible suspects in a crime, the person that left, or any co-conspirators involved in any part of this are watching our posts, also.”
He said the investigation so far had revealed no evidence of an argument or some other provocation for Detamore’s disappearance, but that “we’ve developed a lot of information about his behavior.” He said, however, there no evidence of mental health issues had been uncovered.
“It’s really hard for me to understand, if there’s no foul play involved, how a person could put his family through this kind of trauma,” Walker said. “I actually thought we’d have it resolved over the weekend. It’ll happen. It may take a while but we hope not, for the family’s sake.”
When asked if he thought Detamore would “show up,” the chief responded yes, then added: “I don’t know if he’ll show up, but I believe at some point in time he will be found.”
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