Police hoping for leads on missing plumber

Police are hoping for leads in the mysterious weekend disappearance of a 44-year-old Keaau plumbing contractor.

Jeffrey Everett Meek was last seen Saturday on a 20-acre property his family owns in Pepeekeo. Family members told Hawaii News Now an employee of Meek’s received a call saying Meek’s truck was stuck on the shoreline of the property. When the employee arrived at the site, the truck was there but Meeks reportedly wasn’t.

“His truck was found on his property,” Hawaii Police Lt. James Gusman confirmed Wednesday. Gusman said police and fire, who responded to Meeks’ disappearance over the weekend, are no longer conducting an active search for the missing man.

“Right now we don’t have anything to say foul play is involved,” Gusman said.

Meek is the married father of a young son, and his wife, Marylou, is reportedly expecting another child.

The television report said a GPS tracking showed Meek’s cellphone to be in the Kaumana Caves area above Hilo, about 15 miles from the Pepeekeo property, but his cellphone wasn’t found.

“We assume his cellphone must be with him,” Gusman said.

According to the report, Meek’s family has hired a private investigator.

Meek is the owner of Jeffrey Meek Plumbing in the Shipman Industrial Park. His company’s website has a photograph of him holding his son, James.

It says he “returned to the plumbing trade after 7 years in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Police.”

The Tribune-Herald was unable to contact Meek’s family on Wednesday.

Meek is described as part-Caucasian, 5-foot-8, 185 pounds with balding brown hair and blue eyes. He usually wears a white cowboy hat.

Police are asking anyone with information on his disappearance or whereabouts to call the department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune- herald.com.