Missing CDC employee sent mom cryptic message before disappearance

Cunningham
Timothy Cunningham

The parents of the missing Centers for Disease Control Prevention employee are hoping that his last text message will somehow lead them to discover what happened to their son.

Police revealed that Timothy Cunningham sent several late-night text messages to his mother detailing his dismay over not receiving a promotion at the CDC.

“I will say that we, as a family, were aware of some personal issues that were going on with Tim. There was also some work issues that had occurred,” Timothy’s dad, Terrell Cunningham said in a Today Show interview.

The 35-year-old texted his mom Tia-Juana Cunningham, asking, ‘are you awake?’ at 5:21am on February 12, before heading to work.

He hasn’t been seen or heard from after leaving work that day.

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His parents Tia-Juana and his father Terrell Cunningham, are worried about their son’s frame of mind saying that he normally would never leave behind his valuables like his SUV, wallet, phone and even his beloved dog Beau.

“I’m really praying that something would jog his mind and whatever state he is in, he would come back to us,” his mother told reporters.

Cunningham is a noted epidemiologist. He told his CDC supervisors he needed to go home early, suggesting he was sick.

A family seeks answers

Terrell Cunningham told the media that his son Timothy Cunningham graduated from Morehouse and got his master’s degree as well as his doctorate from Harvard University. He was working as an epidemic intelligence officer at the time he vanished and has been deployed for public health emergencies around the world. Some of those emergencies included dealing with the Zika virus, Ebola as well as natural disasters.

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“It’s not the type of news you want to hear,” Terrell Cunningham stated about his son’s disappearance. “Your child is missing. Thirty-five years old, but always your child.”

Timothy Cunningham reportedly comes from a tight-knit family and does not stay out of touch with them. His brother, Anterio Cunningham said, “Tim is the consummate professional, he loves his job. He wouldn’t just cast it aside. He’s worked hard to get where he is.”

After his suspicious texts Cunningham’s parents could not reach him so they tried calling him repeatedly to no avail. They then drove from Maryland to his Georgia home.

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“Nothing ever stops the love of a parent… we are hopeful that are son would be found,” his dad added.

“My first mind is that something has happened especially considering the length of time he’s been gone,” his brother told Fox 5 Atlanta.

“Not having his phone, leaving his dog Beau alone, he just wouldn’t voluntarily check out like that.”

Anyone with information concerning Timothy Cunningham’s whereabouts has been asked to contact the Atlanta police department.

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