Thomas M. Freeman, 26, of Ohio, was last heard from on June 29, 2017, in Capurgana, Colombia. He told his parents he planned to cross into Panama and travel north through Mexico back to the United States. Border records show he entered Panama at Puerto Obaldia on June 30, 2017, reportedly with three French nationals; after that the trail goes cold.

Thomas was an experienced backpacker and hiker, fluent in Spanish and often traveled with a guitar. His family describes distinctive tattoos: squiggly drawings on his back, a hibiscus flower on one forearm, paw prints on the other, a frog on a moon on his shoulder blade, and Elvish script from The Lord of the Rings on his ribcage. He was last seen wearing a ball cap at times and often had a full beard and mustache.

The area he was traveling near, around the Darién Gap, is noted for difficult terrain and criminal activity. The Cuyahoga Falls Police Department is investigating, and a scholarship at Kent State University was created in his name. If anyone had contact with Thomas after June 30, 2017, or saw him in Panama or along his intended route, please share what was observed.