Volunteers Help Search For Missing South Side Man
SOUTH SIDE (KDKA) – About 100 people showed up Saturday morning to help in the search for a South Side man who vanished earlier this week.
Paul Kochu hasn't been seen since early Tuesday morning.
Friends, family and volunteers showed up at 22nd Street, not far from Smokin' Joe's Saloon where Kochu was shortly before he went missing.
They planned to comb the South Side for any trace of the missing man.
"I believe in my heart that he's out there somewhere," said Jessica Kochu, Paul's sister. "We just have to find where that place is."
With every passing minute, the Kochu family grows more desperate. The search for the missing 22-year-old ICU nurse entered its fifth day on Saturday.
"We've had a lot of positive energy, but we haven't had too many positive results," said Jack Kochu, Paul's father.
Kochu disappeared in the overnight hours between Monday night and early Tuesday morning from his South Side home.
He graduated from the Duquesne University nursing school and worked in the intensive care unit at Allegheny General Hospital.
Everyone who knows him says he loves his job and loves his life.
"Why somebody as responsible as Paul, and as much of a lover of life as Paul is, would just leave, it makes absolutely no sense," said Jack.
For the last few days, family and friends have been posting and handing out flyers on the South Side, asking for help to find him.
That search continued Saturday morning with nearly 100 determined volunteers.
"We're going to check by the river, we're going to check alleyways, you can knock on residences, talk to whoever you run into, hand them a flyer," said one of the search party organizer.
They searched the South Side from the river banks; they walked along railroad tracks, through alleys and streets passing out more flyers, seeking his safe return.
Meanwhile, Paul's father had this message.
"If you have him, please call the detectives," said Jack. "I assure you, all I want is Paul. I want nothing more, his mother wants nothing more, and his brother and sister and all of his friends and relatives want nothing more than Paul."
Pittsburgh Police said the Kochu family is offering a $7,500 reward for his safe return.
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