Family Hopes Missing Tulsa Man Returns Home, Police Fear Foul Play

Lori Fullbright, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A Tulsa man has been missing for three weeks and police are now treating the case as suspicious and fear foul play may be involved.

Joshua Counts was last seen Friday September 30, 2011. Counts has been involved with drugs, but his girlfriend is about to have his baby and his sisters all want to know that he's safe.

Counts went to his sister Tisha's graduation dinner that Friday and seemed to be in a good mood. Tisha drove him home and says he didn't seem stressed or worried, but the very next night he disappeared.

"Saturday night, he was at a club called the Gspot or Gingerbread house. He and a friend were both doing security. His friend walked in and Josh was on the patio, when he went out, Josh was gone," Tisha said.

Tisha kept calling Josh's phone and getting voicemail. She says she waited five days, just in case he showed up, and then filed a missing persons report. She says he lived on his phone and never stayed out of touch this long.

"He has a daughter on the way in three months and he has a five-year-old daughter that asks about him every day," she said.

Tisha hung up flyers; called or texted everyone in Josh's old phone; staked out the bar and went to the friend's house where Josh stayed and got nowhere.

Even though Josh has disappeared for a day or two before, this time is different. Police checked his phone and bank records and were not encouraged.

"The thing that's unnerving about this time, there's no activity on anything, his cell phone, account information, nothing on Facebook. He's basically dropped out of sight," said Tulsa Police Sgt. Dave Walker.

Tisha understands Josh's lifestyle puts him at risk, but doesn't want to think of her baby brother in harm's way.

"I don't want to think negative, but, at this point, I am truly thinking something bad happened. I'm afraid he got into trouble and couldn't get himself out," Tisha said.

Police say they want anyone who has information about Josh to call Crime Stoppers at 918 -596 -COPS or for him to call, so they can put this case to rest.

Tisha would love Josh to call and say he's okay, but he's already missed a birthday and funeral, which she says is out of character, so her hopes aren't very high.