MISSING AMERICAN IN JAPAN
For the Japanese Version click here 
Andy Lathrop was working overseas teaching English to Japanese students and was last seen at 7:00 am on August 15th in Hakodate, Japan. 
If you have any information please contact us or any contacts below.
FACTS
Ø August 13, 2005 Andy left Tokyo with Ariel at 5am
Ø They rode the train for 21 hours
Ø August 14, 2005 at 2:00am Andy and Ariel arrived in Hakodate
Ø They took a taxi to Hakodate Kenkou Center with they spent the night
Ø August 14, 2005 at 8:00am Andy and Ariel toured the island and went to a small beach
Ø August 14, 2005 later that night Andy and Ariel made plans to split up the next day (Aug 15) because Andy wanted to hike in a National Park that was an hour away on the train.
Ø August 15, 2005-7:00am Ariel saw Andy going to the showers at the Hakodate Kenkou Center
Ø August 15, 2005-7:24am Ariel receives a text message from Andy saying: “I’m Leaving”
Ø August 15, 2005-9:00am Ariel receives a text message from Andy saying: “Ferry at 5:30pm from Hakodate to mainland”
Ø August 15, 2005-9:10am Ariel receives a text message from Andy saying: "Let's meet at the station at 4:30pm"
Ø August 15, 2005-9:53am Ariel receives a text message from Andy saying: “ I decided to stay in Hakodate, I walked to swimming area and a ways and the sea is beautiful.”
Ø August 15, 2005-4:09pm Ariel sends Andy a text message saying: “I’m at the station.”
Ø Andy didn’t respond
Ø Andy's return ticket to the main land on the ferry was not used
Ø Andy's cloths have been found in a swimming locker.
Ø Divers found no sign of Andy when they searched the bay
Ø Aug 19. Andy Lathrop family flew to Tokyo arriving Aug 20th.
Ø Aug 20. Tokyo. Shanti Laird of Labo escorts family to hotel. Shanti gives event update and future itinerary.
Ø Aug 21. Shanti Laird and Andy Lathrop family fly to Hakodate.
Ø Aug 21. The Labo staff and the Andy Lathrop family give a press conference to 5 newspapers and 4 TV stations. The Labo staff and the Lathrop's discuss plans for 8/21 and 8/22.
Ø Aug 22. The Labo/Lathrop search teams split into 2 groups. Bi-lingual (Japanese/English) fliers where handed out (previously 1100 Japanese "Find Andy” fliers where handed out.)
Ø Aug 22 .Two separate individuals contact land police regarding Andy. One individual with his wife had talked with Andy at the stairs near the cave on the rocky shore. The individual's wife handed Andy his plastic bag that contained his red cell phone, I-pod and camera. The gentleman and his wife talked with Andy after Andy was out of the water on the other side of the cave. The water was calm and the couple thought about swimming to where Andy had swum but changed their minds due to other previous plans. Approximate time 10:30 am. This gentleman and wife left the area by the coffee shop at 12noon. .
Ø Aug 22. a gentleman and his family, who also happen to own a coffee shop next to the rocky shore, remembers video taping a tall blond man sitting on the stairs near the cave eating bread. Tape shows 0956 as time. Andy was not seen on the shore when the sailboat returned approximately 1 hour later. The sailboat motored in and out of the area due to calm winds.
Ø Aug 23 .Water Police agree to search the cave area and the shoreline leading up to cave area.
Ø 4 coast guard divers search the rocky shore line leading to the cave. The divers were also able to search the cave completely due to clear calm water. The Coast Guard sent a search helicopter to go around the rocky shoreline and mountain area near beach. Land police walked shoreline again where Andy was last seen.
Ø Aug 24.A local business man loaned the LABO/Lathrop search team a fishing boat with a diver to continue the search on the shoreline where Andy was last seen. 10 local fishermen that are familiar with the area that the search team was looking also assisted in the search. Later in the day the water police and land police searched the shoreline area.
Ø Aug 25. The Labo /Lathrop search team returned to Tokyo.
Ø Aug 25 the Lathrop's met with Andy's co-workers at the Labo building.
Ø Aug.26 The Lathrop's escorted by Shanti Laird looked at Tokyo's architecture sites that Andy enjoyed.
Ø Aug 27 Flow out of Tokyo to Chicago.
Ø Per police request, gave a Labo escort a pair of Andy's shoes and worn socks.
Ø Aug 29 Notified by Shanti Laird that Coast guard continues to search for Andy. Two full time police detectives are added to search. Posters and local newspapers continue to remind people to look for Andy.
Ø Aug 31. 2 police detectives still looking for Andy.
Ø Sept 2. Town of Menasha detective Anderson accepts Andy's missing persons case.
Ø Sept 6. Detective Anderson initiates missing person paperwork. Hakodate continues to have 2 detectives searching for clues regarding Andy's disappearance.
Ø Oct 1-Oct 2. Hakodate shore area had a volunteer search for Andy
Ø Oct 1-Oct 2.
- Two Japanese special detectives remain on Andy's case but not physically searching on Hakodate.
- FBI from Milwaukee and Green Bay Wi assisting in continued search. FBI agents are also present in Japan and have been following the search.process.
- Received Freighter log from Hakodate Harbor for Aug 15, 2005.
Ø
St. Mary's Aces of Menasha, Wi is holding a fund raiser for Andy. Proceeds will go to www.findandy.org ( middle school aged children).
Article Links
Menasha Man Missing in Japan Milwaukee Channel.com, WI
Menasha resident missing in Japan Appleton Post Crescent
UW-Madison Student Missing in Japan WMTV
Family joins search for missing student Appleton Post Crescent
Menasha man teaching in Japan goes missing Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI
Menasha family plans to go to Japan to look for missing son Janesville Gazette, WI
Use of Donations
The fund has been set up to help the family with expenses in looking for Andy. We have hired search dogs that well go out Sunday and we hope to hire a private investagator very soon.
We will also use the fund to help house his parents and siblings in Japan for as long as needed. We will continue to have posters made and hung around Hakodate. We will place a missing ad in the Hakodate newspaper. These are the things we have thought of so far as other things come up we will inform you.
As you know, it is said that Japan is one of the most diffcult countries in the world to be missing in. We are hoping that Andy will be found at any cost.
Contact Information:
Contact findandy.org at : web@findandy.org