The mother of a missing Navy sailor is pleading for help to find her son, who vanished last week in southern California, NBC 7 reports.

Nija Townsend Jr. did not show up for work on Monday in San Diego, where he is assigned to the USS Germantown. His absence prompted Navy command to report the 20-year-old missing.

Ship personnel last saw Townsend on Saturday, September 30. His colleagues contacted his mother, Courtney Frazier, and other relatives on Monday asking about him.

Frazier said her son’s disappearance and failure to report to work is “very uncharacteristic” and she is concerned for his safety, according to NBC 7. She added that she does not know of any issues that might have prompted her son to not report for duty.

The concerned mom inquired with Verizon, her son’s cellphone provider, and she says she was told his phone is on and at 100% battery, which suggests the device may be plugged in somewhere. However, the phone has not used any data and has not answered any calls or dialed out this week, according to Fox News.

Townsend is described as 5-foot-10 and about 170 pounds. He has brown eyes, black hair and is biracial. He graduated in 2021 from Brazosport High School in Freeport, Texas.

His aunt, Cynthia Diaz Richardson, posted about her nephew on Facebook.

“This is unlike him not to report back to duty,” Diaz Richardson wrote on Facebook. “Anyone that knows him knows his character and that he is responsible and would NEVER just go missing without any word or without anyone knowing where he is at.”

The San Diego Police Department is now working with Navy officials and investigators on the case.

“The health and welfare of our Sailors is a top priority and we will continue to work with local authorities to help locate this service member,” Commander Arlo Abrahamson, a Navy public affairs officer said in a statement to NBC 7.

To report information about Townsend or his whereabouts, call the San Diego Police Department at 619-531-2000 and refer to case 23-502250.

[Feature Photo: Facebook]