Family of a missing Carson man baffled by his disappearance

A Carson City man is missing after last being seen at an Elko motel about 4 a.m. Saturday, according to his family.

Mike Ravenelle said the family is baffled by the disappearance of his brother William Ravenelle, 50.

"My brother is gone and I want his picture out there. To me it sounds like foul play. I don't know what's going on," he said.

Mike said, he and his brother drove to Elko on Friday afternoon for an appointment Mike had there.

William's plan was to stay overnight at the Comfort Inn, then leave about 7 a.m. Saturday morning to make it back to Carson City in time for his 50th birthday celebration, said Mike.

But Saturday morning, when family in Carson was unable to contact William at the motel, Mike went there about 9 a.m. and found both doors of the vehicle wide open and William's cell phone in the motel room. Mike said when he spoke with the desk clerk, the clerk reported another resident found William's wallet on the second story of the building. It still contained money and a cash voucher for $37 from a nearby casino.

The family immediately reported William's disappearance to Elko Police who tried to piece together the last time anyone saw William, said Mike.

"He was OK through the evening hours. He got dinner and went gambling down the street," said Mike. "About 11 p.m. he popped a tire and limped the car back about a block or so to the motel."

Mike said William then made phone calls around midnight to a 24-hour distributor of Yokahoma tires to find out where in Elko he could buy a replacement.

The last time anyone saw William was between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., a maintenance worker at the motel reported.

Where he went to after that is unknown and he's not been heard from since, said Mike.

While his brother, a former police officer, has had struggles with drug abuse in the past, the circumstances of his disappearance are suspect, said Mike.

"He was very happy. He wouldn't do this. This is serious," he said. "He was going to leave at 7 o'clock in the morning on Saturday for his birthday to come home and celebrate with his three daughters and two grandkids.

"I'm very sad. He's my only brother. I have no idea what happened to him."

William Ravenelle is described as 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds. He has blue eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Elko Police Department at 775-777-7310.