MISSING! CDC scientist vanishes without a trace after being passed over for promotion, police say

Police in Atlanta, Georgia, said a CDC epidemiologist who mysteriously vanished earlier this month was passed over for a promotion shortly before his disappearance.

CNN reported that Timothy J. Cunningham, 35, was last seen February 12 after leaving work early, saying that he didn’t feel well. Atlanta Police Major Michael O’Connor said that all his possessions—including his phone, wallet, and identification—were located at his residence. He also told The Washington Post that his cat and dog were also found at the residence.

“The most unusual factor in this case is that every single belonging that we are aware of was located in the residence,” he said Tuesday.

O’Connor claimed that Cunningham learned that morning why he was passed over for a promotion. He was allegedly informed a week earlier that he didn’t receive the promotion. According to the Atlanta Journal-Consitution, the CDC told police that Cunningham had called out of work on Thursday and Friday, three days after being told he wouldn’t get the new position.

Additionally, Cunningham reportedly made a peculiar comment to his next door neighbor a day before his disappearance.

“He told my husband to tell his wife–me –to erase his cellphone number from my cell phone,” Viviana Tory told CBS.

Cunningham worked as a “disease detective,” identifying infectious diseases like Zika and Ebola.

“Dr. Cunningham’s colleagues and friends at CDC hope that he is safe,” CDC spokeswoman Kathy Harben told The Post. “We want him to return to his loved ones and his work—doing what he does best as a CDC disease detective—protecting people’s health.”

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information surrounding Timothy J. Cunningham’s whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477.

[Featured Image: Timothy Cunningham/Atlanta Police Department]