Residents along Maycroft Road in Avenue should expect a significant law enforcement presence early Friday morning, Oct. 9, as the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office carries out a planned search tied to an ongoing missing person investigation, the agency said in a public notice issued Thursday.
Deputies and other law enforcement personnel will search the area for Thomas Campbell Bolling Von Goetz, 58, who was reported missing to the Sheriff’s Office. The notice describes Von Goetz as a white man, about 6 feet, 1 inch tall and 205 pounds. He is believed to have last been seen on foot on Aug. 16 near Maycroft Road, wearing dark-colored pants and a light-colored shirt.
The Sheriff’s Office said no public search assistance or additional resources are being requested at this time. Residents who see officers in the area are not being asked to join the search. The notice did not say how long the search is expected to last, which agencies will take part, or whether any roads will be closed or restricted, and the agency has not released additional detail about the investigation. Anyone who needs specific information about access to their street can contact the Sheriff’s Office through the numbers below.
Avenue is an unincorporated community in St. Mary’s County, in the area informally known as the Seventh District. Because the notice describes the search area only as the Maycroft Road area, drivers and neighbors may see vehicles and personnel along that road and nearby.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about Von Goetz’s whereabouts, or anyone who may have seen him in the area, to contact Detective Helen Deitrich at 301-475-4200, ext. 8066, or by email at Helen.Deitrich@stmaryscountymd.gov.
Tips can also be sent anonymously through tip411 in three ways:
- Text: send a message to 847411, begin it with “SMCSO,” add a space, and then type the tip.
- Online: submit a tip on the Sheriff’s Office website at www.FirstSheriff.com/tips.
- App: send a tip through the SMCSO app, which is free from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
This story will be updated when the Sheriff’s Office releases further information.
