In the predawn hours of May 24, 2024, a deep sense of unease settled over a quiet Broken Arrow, Oklahoma neighborhood as 46-year-old Eugene Robert Kozuk, known to friends and family as Geno, disappeared from his mother's home. Surveillance footage captured him leaving the residence around 4 a.m., wearing a blue sleeveless shirt and black shorts, but no shoes. He had left behind all his personal items, including his phone and wallet.
Neighbors' cameras later showed him ringing doorbells and lying on a porch around 4:30 a.m. His family believes he was disoriented and experiencing a medical episode at the time of his disappearance. Eugene was managing several serious health conditions, including schizophrenia, diabetes, and a condition that could cause his sodium levels to drop dangerously low, leading to delirium and hallucinations.
The community and law enforcement agencies, including the Broken Arrow Police Department, quickly mobilized extensive search efforts. An emergency 'Kasey Alert' was issued for the vulnerable adult, and search-and-rescue groups with K9 units combed the areas near his last known location. His family, grappling with immense worry, created a GoFundMe to hire private search teams, clinging to the hope that he would be found safe. His sister, Emily Kozuk Old, expressed the family's anguish, recognizing that his chances of survival were slim without his necessary medications. Described by loved ones as a kind and humorous man who possessed a genius-level intelligence in his youth, Eugene's life had been marked by significant challenges after being diagnosed with schizophrenia at 17.
The search concluded in tragedy on December 29, 2024, when human remains were discovered in a creek bed within a deep ravine less than a mile from where he was last seen. Clothing found with the remains matched what Eugene was wearing when he went missing. The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed the remains were his. Authorities stated there was no evidence of foul play, and it is believed he may have become disoriented due to his medical conditions, wandered into the woods, and tragically fell. The discovery brought a devastating end to a months-long search that had been fueled by the hope of his community and the unwavering love of his family. The case highlights the profound difficulties faced by individuals with severe mental and physical health issues and the heart-wrenching loss experienced by their loved ones.Last Seen: May 24, 2024
