Michael Anthony Merritt, known as Tunk, was 40 when he was last seen in Emporia, Virginia, in the early morning hours of May 19, 2002. Around 4:00 a.m. he was observed walking east on Weaver Avenue after having left Greenville Memorial Hospital. He never made contact with family or friends again and is classified as an endangered missing person.

Merritt was a Black male with black hair and brown eyes, 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 172 pounds at the time. The reasons for his hospital visit aren’t public, and few concrete leads have emerged, leaving the Emporia Police Department with a sparse timeline and a difficult investigation.

If anyone remembers seeing Michael that morning on Weaver Avenue or has information about his movements before or after he left the hospital, please come forward.