Authorities asking for help in finding missing man in the Tahlequah area

Thursday, December 16th 2004, 6:06 am

By: News On 6

The search continues for a missing NSU student. Volunteers, loved ones, and officers are trying to find 26 year old Stephen Adams. He was last seen at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah Monday morning.

News on 6 anchor Craig Day went to Cherokee County to find out more about the mysterious disappearance.

At the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation office in Tahlequah, workers and volunteers are pouring over maps trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Stephan Adams. Adams hasn't been seen for several days.

Adam Warren is his cousin and room mate. "You just got to think positive and just focus on finding him. That's all you can do.â€

Adams was last seen taking a ten o'clock final Monday morning at Northeastern State University. He's Native American. Five feet, six inches tall and 164 pounds. He drives a white 1995 GMC pickup. "We're just really focused on finding that truck. If we can find that truck, we think that we'll have a better idea of where he was last seen and have a better chance of finding him."

After Adams didn't see his girlfriend and after not contacting friends and family, they notified police. Adams girlfriend says the last contact she had with him was by phone. That conversation is the only real clue police have in the case.

Adams said he was giving a ride to a man to Keys, Oklahoma, south of Tahlequah. Much of the search is now centered in that area. Tahlequah Police officer Steve Farmer: "We need to know who that person is. Maybe he knew where he was going after that. He may be able to give us information, so we need to try to identify who this person was."

Investigators are working to determine if foul play was involved or if the disappearance is somehow related to Adams' severe asthma. In the meantime, family and friends will keep searching, and hoping for the best.

Anyone that may have information in the case should contact the Tahlequah Police Department at 918-456-8801. Or call the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation toll free at 800-522-8017.

Law enforcement agencies in surrounding states have also been notified to be on the lookout for Adams or his missing pickup.