Family still seeking answers 7 weeks after Azusa man disappears in the Angeles National Forest

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ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST >> The search continues for a father and husband from Azusa who mysteriously vanished in the Angeles National Forest in July.
Christopher Jay Poland, 40, disappeared July 14 after visiting family along East Fork Road in the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
His car was found abandoned along the side of Glendora Ridge Road near mile marker 10 later the same day, Lt. Tamar Abraham of the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau
Missing Person’s Detail. But Poland has not been seen or heard from since.
Family members have already searched the area near where Poland’s car was found, along with sheriff’s search and rescue team members, with no sign of the missing man, according to Poland’s mother, Donna Poland. The family is planning another small search party this weekend.
“It’s difficult, but we’re hanging in there,” she said. Christopher Poland has a wife and 14-year-old son.
ANFmapThe mother said she didn’t want to let the search lapse.
“I just want to keep it out there,” Donna Poland said.
One of the hardest parts of the situation is not knowing what happened to her son, she said.
“Dear God, please just bring him back. We will handle it if it’s bad news,” she said. “We’re going to find him.”
Christopher Poland’s car showed no signs of collision damage when it was found parked along the side of the road, Abraham said.
The car had apparently been hurriedly pulled to the side of the road, as it ended up facing the wrong direction in a turnout and parked partially on the roadway, the mother added.
And his car showed no signs of a mechanical problem, Donna Poland said. “It started right up.”
Poland had no diagnosed medical conditions, but had complained recently that he hadn’t been feeling well, his mother said.
Family had encouraged him to see a doctor due to recent bouts of forgetfulness, but he had yet to do so.
Donna Poland said she’d recently heard that there had been a report of a man seen acting strangely along Glendora Ridge Road on the same day her son went missing, but was awaiting further details from forest rangers.
Donna Poland said she’s been astonished by the outpouring of support the family has received so far.
“A lot of people, who we have no idea who they are, have been searching for him,” she said. “It’s been pretty darn wonderful.”
One man has been offering the use of his drone to aid in the search, and a friend has been searching the area on a dirt bike.
Christopher Poland grew up in Lake Arrowhead and is an experienced outdoorsman, his mother said. The family is holding out hope he will be found safe.
“We just don’t want to give up,” Donna Poland said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Abraham or Sgt. Nunez at the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau Missing Person’s Detail at 323-890-5500.

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