Young Rochester Hills Man Mysteriously Disappears

ROCHESTER HILLS (WWJ) - Local authorities are working to solve the puzzling case of 23-year-old Rochester Hills man who hasn't been seen since last weekend.

Matthew Lyzen told his mother he was headed to the Fire and Ice Festival last weekend, but he never came home.

Police say Lyzen hasn't used his credit card since Saturday when he splashed out on two expensive meals: lunch Sumo Sushi and Seafood — where a waitress recalled he left "ridiculously large tip" — and later, dinner at the Rochester Chop House.

"The one gal was concerned because she thought that the tip he gave her was pretty outrageous, way too high," said Rochester Hills Police Captain Mike Johnson. "It was a $17 or $18 bill, and he gave her $50 for it."

Becky Lyzen said her son, who'd just finished up his associate's degree at Oakland Community College, never spends that kind of money on dining out. He doesn't have a job, doesn't drive, and she's worried that he's been depressed because he'd been sleeping as much as 20 hours a day.

"It's difficult to believe he'd allow me to suffer, not knowing where he is, and that triggers the worst fears," she told WWJ Newsradio 950's Sandra McNeil. "If he doesn't wanna come home, that's fine. I just need to know that he's OK , and whatever this is, we can fix it ... I love my son very much. I'm sure he knows that."

Johnson said that because Lyzen is an adult with no diagnosed mental illness and he left home with appropriate clothes, he cannot be classified as endangered.

Matthew Lyzen is 6 feet tall and weighs about 140 pounds. Witnesses last saw him last in downtown Rochester Sunday evening. He was wearing a leather jacket.

Police have received a tip that he may have been spotted in Sarasota, Florida, so they're sending down leaflets.

Anyone with information about Matthew Lyzen's whereabouts is asked to call 248-858-4951.