Family Of Missing Owasso Man Concerned, Desperate For Answers

The family of an Owasso man who has been missing for three days is desperate to find him.

The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office has taken over the investigation and is planning additional searches in the air and on the ground.

Deputies said 57-year-old Timothy Vanmatre was last seen on security cameras leaving his Owasso home around 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Family members found his car near 66th Street North and Mingo about an hour later, but he was nowhere to be found.

“I expected us to find him at work or find him walking,” said Emily Smith, Vanmatre’s daughter. “We found his car, and found absolutely no sign of him in the area.”

Smith said reality began to sink in.

“Things changed,” she said. “Just an immediate sinking feeling in my stomach.”

Smith said the last few days have been hard. Her dad left the house without his phone and wallet so it has been even more difficult to track him down.

She said Vanmatre knew the area where the car was found.

“He’s a triathlete, he’s an Ironman,” said Smith. “This is an area that he frequently goes to cycle, it’s one of his favorite trails.”

Deputies think Vanmatre was on foot since his bicycle was left at home. They are doing interviews and follow-ups while coordinating searches.

Smith said her dad recently became a grandpa and is always there for his family. They are desperate to get him back.

“I go back and forth with what I think happened every 10 minutes,” said Smith. “I just want answers. I want to find him and hopefully we can find him safe.”

Deputies are planning to continue searching the area where the car was found using a drone and search dogs. Anyone with information should call the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.