Glendale police and the North Shore Fire Department completed their search just before 5 p.m. on Monday for Eugeniu Matcin, a 31-year-old Moldovan diaspora man, living now in Illinois who went missing in the Milwaukee River, local media reports.
The incident was reported around 1 a.m. on Monday near River Drive, after Matcin’s family, staying at an Airbnb, realized he was missing. Matcin was last seen by his family in a hot tub at the back of the residence, wearing only a shirt and red shorts.
Earlier in the day, Matcin had briefly swam in the river, leaving behind his wallet, phone, and vehicle. Despite extensive land, drone, and K-9 searches by Glendale police, they faced challenges with fast-moving currents and poor visibility during an attempted underwater camera search.
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The North Shore Fire Department, Milwaukee Fire Department Dive Team, Milwaukee Police Department Harbor Patrol Unit, and the state’s Department of Natural Resources also participated in searching the Milwaukee River behind the residence.
Standing at 5 feet, 7 inches, and weighing 190 pounds, Matcin has short black hair, and a beard, and was last seen in red shorts. The search will not continue on Tuesday due to dangerous ice conditions, but the police department plans to periodically fly a drone in the area.
Authorities urge anyone with information or sightings matching Matcin’s description to contact the Glendale Police Department immediately.
Eugene Matchin is a native of Moldova. He was born in Chisinau and received his university degree at the Technical University of Moldova. Afterward, he moved to the United States, where he resided in Lake Zurich, Illinois, until now.