The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Cresaptown missing since Jan. 8 found safe at Martinsburg hospital
No bank card transactions, Internet communication in last 15 days

By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
MOUNT SAVAGE, Jan. 24 -- Michael Lasher has been found.

Allegany County Sheriff Craig Robertson said the Cresaptown man, who had not been in contact with friends or family since Jan. 8, was located at a Martinsburg (W.Va.) hospital.

Robertson said Lasher had apparently been at the hospital since Jan. 9. But federal privacy laws had prevented family making inquiries to the hospital. Hospital staff declined to confirm Lasher was at the hospital.

"No matter what happened, at least the outcome is a positive one," Robertson said.

Robertson said Lasher, whose brother, Dan Lasher, is a lieutenant with the Allegany County Detention Center, was known to shy away from contact with friends and family for periods of time.

"This has happened several times in the past," Robertson said. "Dan has found him. You always worry. I know Dan was getting worried."

Original article
By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
MOUNT SAVAGE, Jan. 23 -- Friends and family members are hopeful that a missing Cresaptown man, missing since Jan. 8, can be found safely.

Michael Lasher, 49, last communicated with his a sister, Lisa Lasher, and brother, Dan Lasher, on Jan. 8.

"He usually sees my aunt or my father every day to every other day," said niece Danielle (nee Lasher) Bosley, who currently resides in New Hampshire.

Bosley noted Lasher was having marital problems and suffers from depression. Those elements, among other things, helped to cause a delay in family members filing a missing person report with the Allegany County Sheriff's Office. That occurred on Jan. 21, Bosley said.

"I guess, for a while, we were hoping it was a misunderstanding," Bosley said. "They'd been trying to track him down on their own. He doesn't have very much money. I don't think he'd be able to leave the area."

Bosley said Lasher never has gone this length of time without speaking to family or friends, whether in person, by phone or over the Internet.

The last contact on Jan. 8, however, wasn't encouraging.

"pretty much all signs of him stopped that day,"Bosley said. "He'd been depressed. We're trying not to glorify that. He made some comments here and there (that he's) not going to bother anybody anymore. We're just concerned. At this point, not knowing is almost worse ... We're trying to stay optimistic."

Bosley said Lasher has not made any transactions on a food card since Jan. 8. He relied upon family for cash.

"We don't even think he had gas money," Bosley said.

Bosley said Lasher, an avid hunter, frequently hunted on Dan's and Haystack mountains near his home. He also had favorite locations at Green Ridge Staet Forest. All frequented areas have been searched, Bosley said.

Lasher is 6-foot-1, weighs about 230 pounds and drives a dark green 1998 Chevy Blazer with Maryland license plates

Anyone with any information on Lasher's whereabouts is encouraged to call 301-777-5959.