FINAL UPDATE: It is with deep regret that I must announce Ryan has passed on. Please think of the family in this difficult time. LR will not be the same without R. Moon.
Hey everybody. My friend and fellow LR and workshop member, Ryan (aka R. Moon), has gone missing. If you live in Pennsylvania or surrounding areas, please spread the word.
Thank you in advance to anyone who is able to share this information.
ADDITION: Thank you on behalf of the community for your overwhelming response to this thread. No matter where you come from, please feel free to add some words about how Ryan may have touched your life. His family knows about this discussion and I'm sure all the beautiful things that are being said are appreciated!
Maybe the site owners could post something on the main page? That dude has been a regular member of this site for a loooooong time, given lots of people lots of writing help. I hope everything is okay.
I hope he shows up soon. I'm all the way in Kansas, but I've shared it on everything I have, just in case.
Christ, I'm really sorry to hear that. I'm in the UK so of minimal practical use but what kind of stuff did he write? Maybe I might know groups, friends of friends, etc....
I'm sorry - you must be so stressed out right now.
Tig xxx
Damn, this is really shitty. I hope he's okay. I've talked with the family before when he's had struggles, but lately when he and I have chatted, he seemed really upbeat. PLEASE keep us informed here, and I'll keep an eye on the FB page too.
Ryan, if you're reading any of this and want to reach out on the DL, I will respect that. I encourage you to contact your family if you can, but if you don't want to, you know that's not my place to make you.
@Strange Photon: I have texted Ryan's mom, and in the event she responds, I will post here.
Okay, thanks. I used to have all his contact info, but it all got lost in my old phone. My number is still the same, so if he or any of his family need anything, I'm gonna keep my phone with me.
Okay, just found his mom's number and talked with her. Him being spotted in his area yesterday is a good sign, but Anna's right, travel is never out of the question, so spreading the info as much as possible is never a bad thing.
Oh, no. I really hope Ryan is ok. Please keep us posted.
I'm from Pittsburgh as well. I actually think I live pretty close to where Ryan's from. I'll post some stuff on Facebook. Let me know if I can help out in any other way.
@Dan: That's great, thank you. The FB post in the link above has the relevant information, and was updated about an hour ago. I believe Ryan's in Imperial (North Fayette Police Dept. is leading the search.) Every share helps.
I live in England but I guess the best support I can give is to add my name to this thread and the list of people thinking of him, just in case he's out there and checks in here for some reason. I remember doing some workshopping with him a while ago. Hope you're okay man, if you're reading this.
Hope he's okay
fingers crossed here
Thanks, @Neil. It's wonderful to read all of the support from LR'ers given the nature of the situation. Good juju and thoughts are NEVER a bad thing.
Dang. I really hope he's okay. I shared it on my Facebook page. I have family in Philadelphia. Not sure if it will help but they'll see the post. Ryan's been a good friend to me over the years and instrumental in the help of developing my craft. Wishing him all the best and a safe and healthy return home and to our writing community.
@Jonathan: Awesome, thank you. Ryan's such a treasure on this site. At the end of the day, LR is a family, and he has contributed greatly to many of us over the years, and will continue to do so.
So great to see the community responding. I didn't know he'd been spotted. I'll hold that as a hopeful sign. This is terrible.
@Renee: Yes, according to the Police, Ryan was spotted yesterday afternoon on foot. And yes, reading the comments and concern from LR members is a wonderful thing. Despite the anonymity of LR being an online community, it's important to remember that we're all humans behind our screens and stories, and when times get tough, we need to try to help each other in whatever way we can.
I just shared the link on facebook. I hope Ryan is okay. Thinking positive thoughts.
@Nick-Thank you for sharing on FB and for your thoughts.
Shared on facebook in the long shot that my friends in the US may know someone from the area and further the word. My love to friends and family.
This is awful. Ryan was my first friend on LR way back when and he's been such a big part of this community. Hope he is okay. I'm not on any social media to share this but my thoughts are with his family and friends.
Also calling in from in UK, feeling at a bit of a loose end not being able to help in anyway. Got some really good feedback from Moon when I was starting out here and hope he turns up safe and well.
Adding my prayers and good wishes here - come on, Moon. Come back!
Shared on Facebook - I have friends and family up north. Maybe it'll help. He's so talented and kind - I really hope he makes his way home soon!
Just woke up, please tell me there's some good news...
This is sad news. Hope he is found safe and soon. I live in Las Vegas, but I shared this with some of my family near PA and retweeted information about it. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
@SammyB: Thank you for sharing and your thoughts. Let's hope Ryan returns home safe and soon.
Just talked his mom some more, and she said there's still no word/news. She's losing hope, but I told her that at this point, no news is good news (or at least not bad news).
As someone who has had similar struggles in my dark years, and has run away from life on more than one occasion, I can say that as long as the worst isn't found, there is every reason to believe he's out there and just doesn't want to be found currently for whatever reason. It's WAY easier to stay hidden than most people realize, and way harder to keep from being found if the worst has happened. So, to me, we can only keep sharing his photo and info, and those in the area have to keep plugging away at the search. When he's found safe, it will help encourage him never to do this again if he can know that we all care a great deal and that we didn't give up on him.
WPXI of Pittsburg has featured Ryan's story on its web page. I've emailed a number of other Pittsburg-based news stations as well, and will continue to do so in hopes that they will follow suit.
While I agree with @StrangePhoton that perhaps Ryan doesn't "want" to be found right now, I know that so many of us care a great deal about his welfare, and I'm hopeful that all of the efforts made to circulate his information will aide in Ryan's safe return.
As of 5:55pm Pacific Daylight Time, there is no news about Ryan. I message'd with his mom a bit, and she is losing hope (as Strange Photon mentioned earlier.) Let's all focus our juju, prayers, love, whatever it is you practice, towards Ryan and his loved ones...
My thoughts and prayers to Ryan and his family. I always enjoy reading his posts.
I hope he's fine, wherever he is.
Dang.
Thoughts are definitely with him and his family!!
I've been off the site for a while for personal reasons. This is terrible news. I feel a bit helpless like everyone else. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
@Repo: I've missed you, and I hope you're doing well. Thanks for posting here. Your good juju and thoughts are always appreciated.
Hi everyone - I'm new here on LitReactor after seeing the messages regarding Ryan. I know him from an "in-person" writing group he and I belong to here in Pittsburgh. As many of you have said, he's been tremendously helpful with my own writing. Extremely talented guy. Hopefully he sees the messages we're all posting. Thanks to all who have shared the information.
Seeing your messages reminded me that I've been meaning to join for quite some time ... ironically, as per Ryan's suggestion. So, here we are.
Looking forward to getting to know all of you.
@Melissa: Welcome to LitReactor! I'm sorry this is such a somber time, but it's also a perfect example of the kind of community we are. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me, and I'll be happy to help if I can.
While there are no updates to offer regarding Ryan, I did forward this link to his mom via Facebook this afternoon. I wanted her to read first-hand all of the efforts LR's members have made to circulate this information, as well as the kind words of so many who hold Ryan in such high regard.
Keep the good thoughts and juju and wishes going...and I hope he reads this link soon.
Ive never worked with Ryan, but my prayers to him and his family and I hope he is okay.
@HRJames: Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I know Ryan & his family greatly appreciate it.
@Holly, thanks. It was your post on Ryan's mom's FB page (I was checking to see if there had been any updates posted) that made me remember he suggested I check out LitReactor. I mean, that was a conversation we'd had months ago. Maybe a year. Anyway, I'm very glad to be here, despite the circumstances. Writers stick together. Ryan's a valued member of our Pittsburgh South Writers Group and I, too, hope he sees how many people care about him.
Hoping for the best for Ryan. He's quite the contributor around here. I shared the Facebook post but wish there was more I could do. Come home bud!