Concern for missing man

Gary Rutters, also known as Gary Carlyle

Police are making an appeal for the public's help to trace a missing 24-year-old man from Rochdale currently missing in the U.S.

Gary Rutters, also known as Gary Carlyle, left England on 8 May 2012 from Manchester Airport and flew to Chicago, Illinois.

He is well-known in the computer on-line gaming community and uses the alias Lord_Bobby.

Once he arrived in the US he sent a couple of emails to his family with news of him settling into a new life in Cobleskill, New York, state with his girlfriend. However it is now believed that Gary's girlfriend has not seen him for some time and he was not in fact living with her.

The last time any family heard from Gary was on 25 June 2012 when he sent an email with general news. His lack of contact is totally out of character for him.

Gary is approximately 5ft 8in tall and has blue eyes. He normally wears his waist-length blonde hair in a plait. It is believed he currently has a beard which is reddish in colour and also wears glasses. He also has a South African accent

GMP Missing Persons Investigating Officer Julie Potts, said: "Gary`s family are desperate for news and have even created a Facebook appeal for him which can be accessed via the following link

http://www.facebook.com/groups/393653880687934

“We are currently working with Interpol and US Homeland Security and police forces in the area where he was believed to be living.

“Gary is well known in the computer gaming community of Manchester and was well known to people working in Game shops in the city. We want to reach the gaming community as there will be plenty of people he has played on-line games with. We are hoping someone may come forward to at least let us know if he is still going on-line to play.

"I would urge anyone with information that could help established his current whereabouts or have heard from him recently to get in touch.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Greater Manchester Police on 0161 872 5050 or the Non Emergency number on 101 giving reference number
MP/12/0067206

Alternatively anyone with information can contact the charity Missing People on 116 000 / Missing Abroad 0800 098 8485.