Local

Fleming Island community comes together to search for missing father

Just hours before Keith Peraeu, 65, disappeared, neighbors said he was laughing and having a great time.

They said the father and grandfather took his boat out with some friends, family and his girlfriend Sunday afternoon.

They said Pereau and others returned back to his Fleming Island home later that day.

Neighbors said Pereau’s girlfriend ran an errand, and when she came back, he was gone, and his truck was parked in his neighbor’s driveway.

But Pereau was nowhere to be found. Those neighbors said they later found out Pereau’s duffle bag and some clothes were missing.

Friends and family of a missing local father are searching by land and water for him.

Keith Edward Pereau’s sons say he was last seen on Sunday in Fleming Island.

On Wednesday, dozens of people handed out flyers and said prayers to bring the 65-year-old home.

They are begging everyone to be on the lookout.

The family tells Action News Jax that Pereau has been missing important work meetings which is not like him.

Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole spent the day on Fleming Island where crews have been working to get the word out about Pereau’s disappearance.

Family, friends and the Fleming Island community are praying  the man they've all come to know and love will soon be home again.

His sons, Kirk and Frank Pereau, say they haven't seen or heard from their father since Sunday.

“He was having a barbecue at his house. They went out on the boat,” Kirk Pereau told Action News Jax.

According to the family, several other people were also with him.

“The last time he was seen by his neighbors and stuff, they seen him leaving to get on the boat. The boat came back, but they weren’t positive, ‘Hey, was he there or not?’” Kirk Pereau said.

Keith Pereau is more than a father to his sons – he’s also their business partner. It was clear something was wrong when he missed some appointments.

"We’ve got three, four big projects going on right now that he's supposed to show up to,” Kirk Pereau said.

While the Clay County Sheriff's Office is investigating this as a missing person case, his family and friends are also hitting the streets.

The Pereau brothers allowed Cole to go along on their search.

They stopped to hand out flyers at several businesses their father used to visit.

They hope it encourages someone who knows something about what happened to come forward.

One of the businesses was a Mexican restaurant called La Nopalera.

Roxana Carlon, the assistant manager, told Cole she was sad to hear the news of Pereau’s disappearance.

“I’m shocked because I’ve known him for like 12 years. He will come and have his dinner, sometimes he will come at lunch,” Carlon said.

She described him as a family man.

“…A person you get to care for. He asks for your family, for your kids. He would say hello to everybody,” Carlon said.

After she hung the flyer on her door, she said she wishes there was more she could do to help.

Kirk Pereau says if you see one of the flyers, and you know something--anything--don't be afraid to speak up.

“If you have a family member and they’re missing...you know…many people would say, ‘I couldn’t imagine’—and I couldn’t imagine until now,” Kirk Pereau said.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Clay County Sheriff’s Office at 904- 264-6512. If you see Keith Pereau, call 911 right away.