Cleveland man continues his quest for answers in his brother’s mysterious disappearance

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Bill Hodge continues searching for answers about his brother Michael, who vanished in March 2004 near west 172nd and Puritas.

Michael Hodge was 39 when he disappeared after being kicked out of a party. Authorities said his brother rode away on a 10-speed bicycle. Michael and his bike were never seen again.

“They were his friends, and they never called to ask if we ever found him, they were his friends and they lost interest,” Bill Hodge said.

Bill said recently, those friends agreed to take lie detector tests. Hodge hoped this would provide the break needed to crack the case.

“They passed with flying colors. I always thought they had something to do with Mike going missing. They were the last ones seen with him that night” he said.

Bill Hodge said he has been working with criminology students at a local university on the case. He said they found a picture of a man on a bike that looked like Michael, but it was not him.

“I really pray and wish if someone knows something they would speak up,” Bill Hodge said.

Michael Hodge would be 61 today. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation created an age-progression sketch hoping it would jog someone’s memory. Despite hitting a dead end in the case, Bill Hodge is not giving up.

“He was a really good brother, a great uncle to my kids, he is deeply loved and deeply missed,” Bill Hodge said.

Anyone with information about Michael Hodge’s disappearance should contact Cleveland police or the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.