18-Year-Old Sterling Man Remains Missing After Dirt Biking Trip

State police and slews of volunteers continue to search for an 18-year-old from Sterling who went missing on Monday afternoon after he went out dirt biking.

Todd Jeremiah Allen, or TJ, left the house around 12:30 p.m. to go dirt biking with his Honda XR100 in the Oneco area, his father, Todd David Allen, told NBC Connecticut. TJ never came home.

The family said TJ knows to come home before dark when he takes out his dirt bike and the teen always calls home.

State police first started searching Monday night and rescue crews were out in force Tuesday. Wednesday morning state police said K9 teams were deployed to continue the search but found nothing. Friday morning state police sent K9 teams out again hoping to find some sign of TJ.

Fire personnel and civilian volunteers are also assisting with the search.

On Wednesday, as the search reached day three, TJ’s mother Christina Moses told NBC Connecticut how hard it was to keep it together.

"How can I eat when my little boy is somewhere? He might be hungry, he might be cold," she said.

TJ reportedly texted one of his friends around 1:30 p.m. saying he had hurt his leg but didn't respond to subsequent messages. Another friend told the family that TJ had texted them the same thing at 3 p.m.

According to state police, TJ’s cellphone last pinged in the area of Ross Pond in Killingly, but that area was searched extensively and nothing was found.

Police said that Trooper 1 has searched by air, large groups of fire personnel and civilian volunteers are searching by ground, and there are Search and Rescue K9 teams on the ground.

There was also crews searching in Rhode Island.

On Thursday, Connecticut State Police continue to be the lead agency in the investigation, however, they have suspended their search. DEEP Environmental Conservation Police continues to engage in limited search activites on its lands as they patrol in areas of eastern Connecticut, the agency said. 

Any volunteers interested in helping should check in with State police or the Sterling Fire Department for details on the coordinated search and to avoid confusing the K9 units.

TJ is described as being 5'10" and about 130 pounds with shoulder-length light brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a camouflage t-shirt, blue jeans and brown work boots with a black helmet.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police.

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