The family of a missing 21-year-old is hoping to shine a light on their son's absence by having residents between London and Chatham-Kent keep their porch light on for one full night on May 24.
It has been nearly one year since Tyler McMichael was first reported missing. London police said the then 20-year-old man was last seen on May 24, 2019, in the area of Commissioners Road East and Wellington Road. It's believed he was riding a bicycle towards Chatham at the time. In the following months, police released additional pictures and information, stating that Tyler may have been seen in downtown London in June 2019.
However, Tyler's family is still left wondering where he is.
Tyler's father, Anthony McMichael, said Tyler planned to ride his bicycle down Highway 2 to their home in Chatham-Kent on May 24, 2019.
"Something that he wanted to do for a long time is bike to my place so I never thought anything of it when he said he was going to do it," said McMichael in an interview with Blackburn News. "He never arrived."
Anthony said Tyler's bicycle was his main mode of transportation as a vision condition prevented him from obtaining a driver's licence.
"He has nystagmus, which means he has little eye control -- his eyes jitter," said Anthony. "So he bikes everywhere and he seems to enjoy biking. He's very outgoing, he's soft-spoken, a lot of people when they meet him they think he is very personable."
At the time of his disappearance, Tyler was a patient at the Victoria London Health Science Centre, according to a Facebook page dedicated to finding Tyler. It's believed Tyler left the hospital on a pass but never returned and was not formally discharged.
The past 11 months of not knowing Tyler's whereabouts has been difficult for his family.
"I don't cry every day anymore but I have my moments and the 24th of each month tends to be hard," said Anthony. "It's getting better but then when you feel like it's getting better... that it's not as hard to cope, then you feel guilty that you're doing better."
Tyler's stepmother, Rachel Brethour-McMichael, recently posted to the Facebook group the family's plan in having residents turn on their porch light on May 24 to bring awareness to their missing son.
"His [biological] mom, Krista, suggested we try to get as many people along Highway 2 to turn on their porch light for the whole night to signify lighting up the way for Tyler to come home. And to bring awareness to his continued absence," read the Facebook post. "Please spread awareness of May 24, 2020, to turn on the porch light all night (Highway 2, or maybe anywhere between Chatham-Blenheim-London if you feel inclined to do so."
Anthony said the seemingly small gesture of turning on a porch light would mean a lot to the family.
"It would mean so much to us that people were taking notice," he said. "To most people, it's insignificant, to us it means the world. The fact that people would do that would mean so much."
London police described Tyler as Caucasian, approximately 5’10”, with a slim build and light brown hair. He may have shaved his head and maybe going by the name, Sidney. Anthony said Tyler also has "brilliant blue eyes" and a very light brown birthmark on his cheek.
