Maryland

‘Praying for a miracle': Father missing after car found submerged in Maryland creek

Jamell LeeHeung II, 25, was last seen on Saturday headed back to the Indian Head base where he lives with his wife and children

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Crews are searching for a military veteran, husband and father who is missing after authorities found his car submerged in a creek in Charles County, Maryland.

Jamell LeeHeung II, 25, was first reported missing on Saturday to the U.S. Navy Police at the Naval Support Facility Indian Head, where he lives with his wife and children, the Charles County Sheriff's Office and his family said.

"It’s not like him to do anything like this. So it's just very hard right now," LeeHeung's wife Kayla LeeHeung said.

LeeHeung's father said his son was last seen headed to the base after leaving a bar in Bryans Road on Saturday.

Immediately after he went missing, LeeHeung's family did their own search and came to a spot along Mattawoman Creek where they saw car tracks going straight to the water. Then, divers discovered his Nissan Altima in the creek on Monday. But there was no sign of LeeHeung.

The area of the creek where his car was recovered is a few blocks from the entrance to the base. Dive teams, boats and a drone were used in another search of the creek on Thursday.

LeeHeung's father said he texted him shortly before he disappeared and nothing seemed amiss.

"I said, 'Hey, just wanted you to know we had a good Thanksgiving. I love you son,'" he said.

When LeeHeung left Bryans Road, he headed south on Route 210, which would have taken him directly to the base's main gate. Authorities are trying to figure out how and why his car ended up at the boat ramp at the end of Mattingly Avenue, the last place to turn before reaching the main gate.

Kayla LeeHeung wore her husband's favorite hat, a New York Giants beanie, as she spoke with News4 Thursday.

She said it's been hard to explain to their 5-year-old son that his father is missing.

"He loved the ground that his daddy walked on. That was his best friend. I tried telling him, but I don’t think it’s really registering," she said.

His father says LeeHeung is an Army veteran who worked at Andrews Air Force Base. He said LeeHeung has been living at the Indian Head base as he attends school.

The family described him as a strong, upbeat and religious person.

"I could be moping and negative about everything and he’d be like, you know, "God got us. God got this," Kayla LeeHeung said.

LeeHeung is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 162 pounds.

The sheriff's office plans to continue searching the creek.

"I'm just praying for a miracle right now so if anybody has seen anything please reach out," Kayla LeeHeung said.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to call 301-609-6499.

Stay with News4 for updates to this developing story.

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