GAINESVILLE - Gainesville police say a $500 reward is now on the table in the case of a homeless man who went missing after a fight about nine months ago.
Cpl. Kevin Holbrook said Monday 53-year-old Ricky Eugene Blocker was last seen on June 7, 2014 following a fight near Skelton Road.
"We do believe that he did sustain injuries during that altercation - the extent of those injuries we do not know," said Holbrook.
Still, he said investigators and Blocker's family members think the man who was part of what Holbrook described as the "transient community" might have come to some bad end.
"We have looked into his bank accounts that he did have - the money that he did have coming in - and unfortunately, it has not been touched," said Holbrook. "That makes it [his disappearance] even more suspicious on our end."
Holbrook said the reward money has come from a private party.
"He was withe the homeless community here in Gainesville, and of course, this reward money may be beneficial to them," said Holbrook, noting that any information shared with investigators can be kept anonymous.
He said while Blocker was homeless, he did have family in Georgia that wants to find him. He also said Blocker had some ties to White and Dawson counties.
Multiple agencies and jurisdictions have assisted in searches of the area since Blocker's disappearance, according to Holbrook.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Brad Raper at
770-535-3783.
Friday
June 6th, 2025
10:36AM
