In the summer of 2020, a 28-year-old man named Brett Michael Akers vanished from Norfolk, Virginia, leaving behind a trail of concern and unanswered questions. On July 1, 2020, Brett was last seen after a tumultuous period. He had been admitted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital on June 30th against his will after a suicide attempt. The following day, he left the hospital without being discharged. Although police located him and returned him to the medical facility, Brett would leave again.
The last confirmed sighting of him was captured on video surveillance at approximately 4:30 p.m. behind Fort Norfolk Plaza, near Plum Point Park. In the footage, he was seen turning towards the Elizabeth River Trail, dressed only in blue surgical scrubs and yellow hospital socks, without any shoes.
Brett's disappearance was particularly alarming due to the circumstances preceding it. At the time he went missing, he was recovering from a self-inflicted neck injury and was in a vulnerable state, requiring medical attention. He was described as a white male, standing between 5'11' and 6'1' tall, and weighing around 150 to 165 pounds. He had brown hair, blue eyes, and wore contact lenses. At the time of his disappearance, he had a beard. His family noted that he was an avid outdoorsman. The discovery of his matching blue scrub top in a nearby parking garage added another layer of mystery to his sudden disappearance.
The search for Brett Akers commenced quickly, with his family and law enforcement desperate for any information regarding his whereabouts. His mother was notified on July 2nd that her son was no longer at the hospital. Over the years, there have been moments of false hope, including a time when a man with amnesia was found in Maryland, but it was confirmed not to be Brett. His family has offered a reward for any credible information that could lead to his location. Despite the passage of time, the case officially remains an unsolved endangered missing person case. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance continue to be unknown, leaving his loved ones waiting for answers.Last Seen: Jul 1, 2020
