UPDATE: Bryson Muir has been found.
EARLIER:
Indiana police say they and the Department of Child Services have been in communication with the parents of missing Logansport teen Bryson Muir, but he's still considered missing and endangered.
Officials visited the Muirs' home on the property of an organization called the Servant Leader's Foundation, but 14-year-old Bryson has not been seen, according to a news release. After agreeing to meet officials and bring their son Friday, his parents backed out of the plan, the release said.
Previously:Silver alert issued for missing Logansport teen after parents back out of agreed meeting, ISP says
Here's what we know and what you can do to help.
How long has Bryson Muir been missing?
Bryson Muir has been missing since Sunday, June 16.
Silver Alert issued for Bryson Muir
A statewide silver alert for a lost or missing person was issued for the teen at 2:11 p.m. Friday, June 28.
Who are Bryson Muir's parents?
Bryson's parents, Daniel and Kristin Muir, live in Logansport, Indiana, according to police. Daniel formerly played for the Indianapolis Colts NFL team.
When did Daniel Muir play for the Colts?
According to an ESPN.com biography, Washington, D.C.-native Daniel Muir played defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts for four seasons, from 2008 to 2012. Before that, he's listed as having played for the Green Bay Packers for one season (2007-2008). He played for the New York Jets for 2012-13; and the Oakland Raiders in the 2013-14 season, the profile says.
According to reporting by the Martinsville Reporter-Times, after retiring, Daniel Muir became involved with Sports World Inc. The Indianapolis organization is made up of retired athletes who give motivational speeches.
In 2017, he spoke at an event organized by Faith Church near Martinsville, Indiana. A Reporter-Times journalist who covered the event said he talked about how God changed his life after he survived a car crash.
“It’s to encourage kids to make good choices,” Muir said at the time. “And we talk about our good and bad choices — hopefully to turn them from the bad ones and having them chase after the good ones.”
Are Bryson Muir's parents cooperating with the investigation?
Two days after Bryson went missing, Cass County DCS workers contacted Indiana State Police regarding allegations of abuse involving Bryson Muir. The domestic battery is alleged to have occurred inside the boy’s home in the1700 block of West U.S. Highway 24 in Logansport, a property owned by a group called the Servant Leader's Foundation. In a photo provided to the news media, the boy appeared to have a swollen, black eye.
Cheryl Wright, Bryson's grandmother, told Fox59 she was the one who reported that he had a black eye. Wright told the station she believes Bryson is "conditioned or brainwashed."
Officials said they reached the parents, who began to "show signs of cooperation." On Friday, they said the Muirs had agreed to bring him to meet with ISP investigators at noon; but at 11 a.m., they backed out, "which signaled an unwillingness to cooperate," according to a statement from ISP.
Teen picked up in 2015 Chevrolet Suburban
Police said that Bryson Muir left a family member's Ohio home in a white 2015 suburban, which is believed to belong to the Servant Leader's Foundation.
"Shortly after leaving this residence, this vehicle was pulled over by the Garfield Heights (OH) Police Department," according to the release, "but Bryson was not inside."
What is the Servant Leader's Foundation?
ISP and Cass County DCS said in a news release that Daniel and Kristin Muir's home was on the property of the Servant Leader's Foundation in Logansport.
A 5.63-acre parcel of land owned by the Servant Leader's Foundation is listed in Cass County property records. The organization itself has an address for a box at a UPS store listed.
According to the property record, Daniel Muir bought the land in 2020 and the Servant Leader's Foundation became owners in 2023. An overview of the property in the county property records shows several structures at the address.
Fox59 reporter Angela Ganote said earlier this week on her Facebook page that their crew visited the property in Logansport. She said the sign outside says "Welcome to Straitway Indiana-Goshen."
What is Straitway?
A YouTube channel for Straitway Indiana-Goshen links to a website for the Straitway Truth Ministry. The site's welcome message says the group is "fully self-supported and (does) not carry the restriction of the 501c3 classification," referring to the code for nonprofit organizations.
A page with additional information about the ministry states: "We are a nation of Hebrew Israelites (translated in the KJV as Jews) who are commandment keepers; obedient to Yah (God) & our savior, Jesus the Christ. We are blessed with a vibrant deliverance ministry & life changing truth from a true Jeremiah 3:15 Pastor."
According to an online Bible reference, in the King James Version, Jeremiah 3:15 reads, "and I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."
The site includes religious messages and other related content. Videos on the site show a Pastor Charles Dowell. He also appears in videos that appeared publicly on Daniel Muir's Facebook page as of Friday evening.
Sports Illustrated reported in 2020 that other ex-NFL players, including former Packers star Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, had also become members of the Straitway Truth Ministry after "denouncing Christianity."
What does Bryson Muir look like? What was he wearing?
According to the silver alert, Bryson is a 14-year-old black male. He is 6 feet, 2 inches tall and 185 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last known to be wearing an orange Under Armor shirt and jeans.
Who to contact with information about Bryson Muir
Anyone with information about Bryson Muir’s whereabouts is asked to contact State Police at 1-800-382-0689 or call 911.
If you suspect a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect, call the DCS hotline at 800-800-5556. State law requires DCS to keep callers' name and contact information confidential. You can also visit a local DCS office to make a report.
Where is Logansport, Indiana?
Logansport is in Cass County, Indiana, and has a population of just more than 18,000, according to the 2020 census. It's about an hour and a half drive north from Indianapolis by highway.
