300 Volunteers Search For Missing Charlotte Man

Firefighters spent Saturday searching over a dozen specific areas in and around central Charlotte looking for clues in the disappearance of Kyle Fleischmann.

The 24-year-old was last seen in Uptown Charlotte one week ago. Now family and friends are desperate for answers about what may have happened.

Fleischmann got separated from friends at Buckhead Saloon and left the bar alone around 2:20 a.m. Nov. 9. He made his last cell phone call about an hour later and hasn’t been heard from since.

Firefighters and nearly 300 volunteers including Fleischmann’s family and friends combed a 9 mile area around Charlotte until around 4 p.m. Saturday.

Officials said, “Thanks due to the efforts of the many volunteers numerous personal items were located. However, no significant items were found to better answer where Kyle Fleischmann may be.”

Charlotte Fire, Charlotte Mecklenburg Police and the private investigation firm hired by Fleischmann’s family will now meet to determine the next step in the investigation.

Authorities said that volunteers couldn’t search in people’s backyards, and ask if residents could check their yards, trash cans, etc. and report to police with any information.

"We are grateful for the valuable search operation that has been underway in Charlotte over the last week" said Dick Fleischmann, Kyle's father. "We would ask as people go about their activities please consider looking in and around your businesses or private property for anything that may help us find our son".

Word of Fleischmann’s disappearance spread quickly across the country after friends started a Web page devoted to finding him. One site got over 10,000 hits on Thursday night and has a total of more than 45,000 hits.

Numerous searches have also been organized throughout the week in uptown. Fleischmann’s mother underwent surgery for breast cancer on Friday so most family members took a break from searching to be with her at the hospital.

There is a $10,000 reward being offered for information that leads to finding Fleischmann.