Jackson volunteers join search for missing Austin man

CROTHERSVILLE — The search for a 50-year-old Austin man missing for a week continues today in several locations including southeastern Jackson County.

“The Jackson County Posse was out looking for him yesterday (Monday),” Hugh Pasley said of the search for his half-brother, Paul Graupe.

Pasley said Graupe was last seen a week ago on Tuesday when he left his house to go and try to collect a debt from a former co-worker. Graupe, a 1978 graduate of Crothersville High School, planned to go to work at Morgan Packing Co. in Austin after stopping by the former co-worker’s residence but never made it.

Police later tracked his cell telephone to an area about seven miles west of Austin in the bottoms along Indiana 250 in Jackson County, Pasley said.

He said his brother is a kind-hearted person who never hesitated to help anyone. Graupe also has never been married, has no children and doesn’t drive, Pasley said.

Pasley is from Crothersville but said he was living with Graupe while he is having a new home built.

Anyone with information about Graupe’s disappearance may contact Austin Police Department at (812) 794-2496.

Pasley described Graupe as standing about 5 feet 7 and weighing about 160 pounds with brown hair and wire-rim glasses. He said he usually a camouflage baseball cap and shirt.