Missing Maine man, 26, who took a vow of silence in 2017 before he disappeared in Hawaii a year later ‘may be at a monastery’, say family
- Alexander Gumm, 26, vanished in February 2018 from a youth hostel in Hawaii
- His worried family believe he may have joined a monastery on the island
- Since he went missing, Gumm hasn’t touched his $8,000 bank account savings
- His family contacted monasteries on the island and hired a private investigator but have been unable to track him down
A search is underway for a Maine man who disappeared while ‘seeking enlightenment’ in Hawaii more than a year ago.
Alexander Gumm, 26, vanished in February 2018 from a youth hostel on the island of Kauai and hasn’t been seen since, it has emerged.
‘I just want to know, is he alive,’ said his mom, Sally McLaren, who said her son shaved his head and took a vow of silence before his trip.
Alexander Gumm, 26, vanished in February 2018 from a youth hostel on the island of Kauai and hasn’t been seen since, it has emerged
Before he travelled to Hawaii, Gumm became heavily influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism, his family explained.
His family, who believe he may have joined a monastery, launched a social media campaign to track him down. Gumm’s friends plan to travel to Hawaii to assist in the search.
Before he travelled to Hawaii, Gumm became heavily influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism, his family explained.
‘Alex took a vow of silence in 2017,’ his father, Ben Gumm, said. ‘He very seldom talked to anyone. He tried to be as silent as he could.’
They have contacted monasteries on the island and hired a private investigator but have been unable to track him down. ‘I have no problem with him being in a monastery,’ his father said. ‘He’s an adult, but if they’re holding him there against his will that would be a very big concern.’
Phone records show he contacted two taxi companies before he went missing – but those companies have no record of driving him anywhere, the Milford Mirror reported
Phone records show he contacted two taxi companies before he went missing – but those companies have no record of driving him anywhere, the Milford Mirror reported.
Since he went missing, Gumm hasn’t touched his $8,000 bank account savings.
They have contacted monasteries on the island and hired a private investigator but have been unable to track him down.
‘I have no problem with him being in a monastery,’ his father said. ‘He’s an adult, but if they’re holding him there against his will that would be a very big concern.’