Ryan Godbey’s last contact with family members was on June 19 and the last sighting of the 26-year-old was when they left Darlin’s CREW in Canton. This location was where Ryan was scheduled to perform over the weekend.
CANTON, Ohio — A Canton family is desperate for answers as the search for missing 26-year-old Ryan “JJ” Godbey reaches its second week.Â
At Darlin’s CREW, an LGBTQ+ establishment, Ryan Godbey was preparing for a drag show performance. They, preferring they/them pronouns, were reported missing on Sunday, June 22.
Canton police say the case involves “mysterious circumstances,” and detectives are treating the investigation with urgency.Â
Jackie Godbey, Ryan’s mother, informed 3News that her child suffers from epilepsy. Ryan had left their medication and pet cats at home, with visible signs of a possible struggle at their residence.
“He (Ryan) wouldn’t just walk away from his family and his friends. He wouldn’t leave his medicine, and he definitely wouldn’t have left his cats behind,” Jackie Godbey said.Â
Jackie Godbey said Ryan had moved into an apartment in April and was making connections with friends in the local LGBTQ+ community, living their “life dream.” She told 3News Ryan was “so excited” to perform at CREW and that they would not have missed it.
“He was with my mom Thursday afternoon working on the outfits and different things to prepare for Saturday,” Jackie Godbey said. “Any friend that talked to him throughout the last two weeks knew he was working on this and he was ecstatic. This was his dream come true.”
Samantha Richardson, a local mother who founded the Silent Mother Project and has become an advocate for Ryan Godbey’s case on social media, said that according to friends and loved ones, the 26-year-old texted a friend that their live-in boyfriend was upset with them before their disappearance. Jackie Godbey said the text was sent at 12:27 a.m. Friday, June 20. That was the last known contact anybody had with Ryan Godbey.
Richardson said Godbey’s boyfriend is in custody on drug and trespassing charges. It is unknown whether the arrest has any connection to the missing person case.
Richardson said the Godbey family is working with police to organize search parties Friday evening. The family is looking for people to assist the search efforts in any way.
