Is anyone helping to find Vaughn, or are they just praying?

[John Doe Jr]

 http://www.masoncountypress.com/2016/04/11/hamlin-grocery-owner-vau...

[XLFD]

Unfortunately, this is a consequence of having a sheriff's office that thinks it's investigations are sacrosanct, where relevant information could be made available that may help someone figure out the mystery of where he is. 

Mr. Flewelling is a nice man I've chatted with many a time at the Hamlin Grocery when riding my bicycle in the neighborhood.  Let's hope he turns up unharmed.  And by all means, send him an extra prayer if you are so inclined.

[AQUAMAN]

Yeah, Vaughn may have owed people money? Or did he just go on a drinking binge? Try bringing in some cans/bottles that he doesn't sell and won't make the huge 10 cent refund, and see how he treats you then.

[Jasper]

Wow Aquaman. Meijer and Walmart spit out of their machines bottles and cans they do not sell in their stores. So tell us why Vaughn would refuse to do the same. Your post is heartless.

[AQUAMAN]

That's right Jasper, anyone who brings cans/bottles someone does not accept, they can just politely refuse them. When I bring in a 5 gal. bucket of them, I don't go thru them to categorize or sort, just drink them. I just take the unaccepted ones elsewhere. What Vaughn did to me about 5 years ago is go into a tizzy and shitfit. He apparently thought I was trying to cheat him on about 3 cans out of 30 cans, big deal. As I paid for other goods it was obvious he was fit to be tied in attitude and complaining. I just told him I wouldn't be back after that, and haven't been. How can anyone be such a hot head about a few cents? I've had other stores take mine regardless, and give me the refund, to keep my business, and be courteous. Vaughn does not know or have business skills and professionalism imho.

[Willy]

I'm a regular at the store only because of the deli dept. Love the potato salad and the other great tasting foods they serve. I don't know if this means anything but I've noticed he seemed a little down in the dumps. I just figured he was working to hard. I hope he hasn't done something to himself. One thing we have in common is his opinion of the LDN. He had a problem with the paper a ways back so he ordered LDN to remove their product from his building. I hope he's OK because I'm sure family and friends are going thru a rough time over this.

[Willy]

I've been thinking about this some more. If this is all the information that's going to be released then, as X stated, how is this going to help others find him. For instance, I've never noticed any secutity cameras but that doesn't mean there isn't any. Was anything missing from the store? How about the day's receipts? DId he have the stores daily take on him or is their a safe in the store? If so was that tampered with or missing? Any signs of a struggle?  If nothing suspicious was uncovered or nothing is missing then their may be no foul play involved. C'mon Sheriff release some information.

[AQUAMAN]

I also used to like that store Willy, went there since 1968, and didn't live far the last 15 years. If there is anything that Lud. officials are great at, it's coverups and secrecy these days. All the rest of the employees always were very polite and helpful too, great lunches too in the summer.

[John Doe Jr]

Alleged news.... Vaughn's License plate was found in his garage.

[Jasper]

Perhaps maybe Vaughn does not desire to be found. Furthermore all these people begging and pleading to Vaughn?? Seriously this shite is a reminder of people who show up at a funeral and weep at the wake and these same have not seen the deceased for 20 plus years. Where were these people when the person was alive and kicking?

[XLFD]

One of the nagging suspicions Jasper and other are looking at, and it grows stronger each day that Vaughn is missing, is whether he pre-planned his disappearance.  The sheriff's office should have been able to by this time have gotten a warrant to look at Flewelling's recent financial activity.  Even if he hasn't had any activity on his credit cards since he went missing, there may be some hint by his purchases, sales, withdrawals, and deposits before his disappearance to suggest he may be voluntarily missing. 

The Vaughn Flewelling most know over the last few years is probably a far cry from the Vaughn Flewelling that did defraud the state DNR back about ten years ago, and was caught after a few years of doing so.  It does make the case better as to why the MCSO is not declaring this an abduction at this point, and why doubt lingers in my mind that someone kidnapped him and his vehicle.  The 2007 COLDNews report by Brian Mulherin is included in the link at the end.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2007

Contact: Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014

Ludington Area Retailer Charged With Larceny in License Sales Scam

A Ludington area license agent has entered a plea agreement with the Mason County Prosecutor’s Office on a count of larceny by conversion between $200 and $1,000 for his part in a license sales scam.

Vaughn Flewelling, owner of the Hamlin Grocery, was arraigned in 79th District Court in Mason County last week and entered a plea on Monday. Judge Peter Wadel sentenced Flewelling to pay $23,000 in restitution to the State of Michigan. Flewelling paid $18,793.03 on Monday, and has 180 days to pay the remaining $4,206.97. He was also ordered to pay $440 in fines and costs, ordered to serve 40 hours of community service, and given 90 days in jail but suspended lieu of satisfying the ordered judgment.

Working on a tip received by a conservation officer from a woman who bought a restricted fishing license from Flewelling, the Special Investigative Unit of the Department of Natural Resources launched an investigation in the fall of 2006, with undercover officers visiting the Hamlin Grocery to gather evidence. The woman had purchased her license from the store in early 2006, and later that year visited a local Wal Mart store to purchase her “all-species” upgrade because she was going salmon fishing. Upon attempting to purchase the upgrade, the Wal Mart store told her they were not able to sell her one because there was no record that she had purchased the required restricted license. She ended up purchasing another restricted license, and later told the conservation officer she encountered in the field about the incident.

The large-scale investigation by the Special Investigative Unit showed that Hamlin Grocery had voided nearly 40 percent of their license sales, while the average retail license agent only voids 1 to 2 percent. The investigation showed that over a two-year period, Hamlin Grocery had stolen almost $25,000 from the State of Michigan through voided out license sales. The license sales terminal at the grocery store has been removed.

“This scam defrauded the State of Michigan out of nearly $25,000 that would normally have gone into our Game and Fish Protection Fund to help pay for the day-to-day fish and wildlife activities of the DNR,” said DNR Law Enforcement Chief Alan Marble. “We are grateful to the hunters and anglers out there who offer us information and tips to help our investigations.”

The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural resources for current and future generations.

www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/threads/ludington-area-retailer-ch..." target="_blank">http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Xz69UNJ9q44J:www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/threads/ludington-area-retailer-ch...

[XLFD]

They've found Vaughn out of state.  He parked his car at a Muskegon apartment complex, took a bus to GR, then transferred out to an unnamed state.  His disappearance was voluntary.

http://www.shorelinemedia.net/ludington_daily_news/news/local/vaugh...

[Willy]

I'm very curious as to why he did this. There are people who do this from time to time because they just want to get away or they may be suffering from the onset of Alzheimer's or Dementia. This wouldn't be so unusual except that he ditched his car and opted for a bus ride.