A recent fire destroyed the home of a Florida man who was reported missing nearly two years ago, deepening the mystery surrounding his disappearance.
John Henry Mallouk, 78, was reported missing in January 2023 by a “concerned” relative, police said. The Martin County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division began investigating the case after Marouk had not been seen or heard from since August 2022.
The fire broke out Friday night at Marouk's home in Okeechobee, Florida, and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
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John Henry Mallouk, 78, was reported missing in January 2023 by a “concerned” relative, police said. (Martin County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)
Firefighters at the scene were unable to save the home and two cars, including a red 1955 Ford Thunderbird that was in the garage.
Authorities said the fire raised new questions about Mr. Marouk's fate as detectives investigated any links to his disappearance.
“When detectives initially searched Mr. Marouk's home, they found no signs of a struggle or foul play,” the Martin County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
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The fire broke out Friday night at John Marouk's home in Okeechobee, Florida, and the cause of the fire is under investigation. (Martin County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)
“The building appeared to be untouched, with the doors unlocked, food left in the refrigerator, and a cell phone left on the counter,” the statement continued.
In light of Friday's fire, detectives are revisiting the scene for “additional leads” that could help investigate Marouk's disappearance, and are “trying to determine if there is a correlation between the fire and his case. An investigation was conducted, police said.
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The fire broke out Friday night at John Marouk's home in Okeechobee, Florida. Police are investigating. (Martin County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)
Detectives are asking anyone with information about the fire or Marouk's whereabouts to contact the Martin County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division.
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“Our detectives spent a tremendous amount of time on this case,” Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said. he told WPBF.
“We just want closure wherever the answers lead us,” he added. “He has a family who are worried about him and his whereabouts.”
