The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE family of missing Andros resident Antonio “Doe Doe” Bastian is pleading for additional police resources from New Providence as the search for the 45-year-old enters its second week with no sign of him.

Mr Bastian was last seen on July 13 walking along the Queen’s Highway between Love Hill and Fresh Creek. His sister, Hanna Mott, said he had been travelling to see a doctor before he disappeared.

Ms Mott said her brother experiences “seeing things”, receives injectable medication and had previously been treated at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre. She said he had been making good progress since leaving the facility and earned money washing cars.

The family became alarmed after Mr Bastian failed to return home on July 14. He was reported missing to police on July 16 after relatives waited 48 hours.

Ms Mott said her brother would only “once in a blue moon” go for periods without contacting relatives and that it was highly unusual for him to remain away from home for so long.

She believes someone may have targeted him or taken him elsewhere.

Police have mounted extensive searches across Central and North Andros since the report was filed, including deploying the Criminal Detection Unit’s drone team.

“As much as the police can do in Andros, from Central to North, they are doing, but they need more help,” Ms Mott said.

She praised officers on the island for supporting the family and joining searches throughout the day.

“They was with me from day one,” she said. “We’ve been out in the evening, in the morning, and we’ve come up with nothing.”

Ms Mott said her brother had been treated at Sandilands about four or five years ago and had been in and out of the facility. She traced the beginning of his mental health problems to an incident in which she believes someone gave him a laced substance.

Police issued a missing person poster for Mr Bastian on July 19.

He is described as having a dark brown complexion, standing 5ft 6in tall and having a slim build.

The Tribune sought comment from the Royal Bahamas Police Force but received no response up to press time.