BELCHERTOWN – Despite anguish and grief, the family of a popular Belchertown man – now missing for two years – continues to believe there are people who know what happened and urge them to share that information with the authorities, family members said in recent interviews.
In addition, the sense of hope amid the gloom prompted a younger member of the family to organize a blood drive Monday, the second anniversary of Michael “Mickey” Brougham’s puzzling disappearance, which has perplexed law enforcement officials who suspect foul play and characterize it as a missing person case.
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“What really gave me the idea for the blood drive was that close to Mickey’s disappearance, there was a memory I had of him when he saved a woman’s life by giving blood,” said his 21-year old-niece, Molly Brougham.
“He saved her during childbirth by giving his blood,” she said. “Donating blood is a very good cause.”
Today’s blood drive, conducted by the Red Cross in Brougham’s name, is at the Masonic Lodge, 1 Main St. from 1 to 6:30 p.m.
Brougham was last seen in Belchertown Friday afternoon, June 25, 2010. While driving that day, he exchanged a wave with his nephew Adam Brougham, a police officer in town.
Some of Brougham’s personal items, including his watch, wallet and cell phone, were discovered two days later at an automobile race track in Loudon, N.H.
062312_gary_brougham.JPGJim Russell photoBelchertown Town Administrator Gary Brougham said he believes his brother, Michael, missing for two years, is still alive.
Evidence of Brougham’s attendance at the New Hampshire International Motor Speedway in Loudon, which hosted a NASCAR event that weekend, is questionable as track officials told investigators they do not use surveillance cameras.
Family members believe there are people in the community who have information useful to investigators.
Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan is urging anyone with information to use a new, anonymous tip gathering service which accepts information by cell phone text message.
“The new Text-a-Tip program allows citizens to text tips to area law enforcement agencies by typing PROTECT plus a message and text it to 274637,” said a statement from Sullivan released on Thursday. “The sender remains completely anonymous and may choose to opt out at any time.”
Anyone with information can also call the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit at (413) 586-5150.
“We have faith that this will come to an end someday,” Brougham’s sister Cindy Brown said.
“It will come to an end when the people who know something come forward or give the information we need to get him back and to hold somebody accountable,” she said. “I have two elderly parents that have struggled every day with this.”
Harry Brougham, 80, and his wife, Rita, 77, have six children.
“We are sure that people in the community have information that can be very useful to law enforcement; if they could share that, that would be invaluable,” said Brougham’s sister Carla Chaisson.
She urged people to use the new anonymous tip line to share information about Brougham’s disappearance.
“I think it is a tremendous resource to add to the case,” Chaisson said.
Her sister, Fran Lofland, who divides her time between Maine and Belchertown, said the episode has been heart-wrenching.
“It is a huge black hole. There is a lot of heartache and headache. There is no new information. It is surprisingly difficult to get information,” she said.
Shortly after Brougham went missing, a private investigator in the Loudon area, Seldon Nason, volunteered his time and effort, but also came up with nothing, Chaisson said.
Gary Brougham, the Belchertown town administrator, said he believes his brother is still alive, that people have information to share and that justice will eventually be served.
“I know there are people who know what happened to my brother,” he said. “I have full confidence in the justice system – and I am absolutely confident that sooner or later, they will find him.” Noting that Brougham did not inform the family about going away and that all his vehicles were parked in his driveway two years ago, Gary said: “Rarely did he go somewhere without his vehicles; never did he go without telling his family.”
In an interview, Belchertown Police Chief Francis Fox said: “I, like members of the family, believe that someone knows something that they can provide to the authorities. Cases are solved by getting information from the community.” A 27-year veteran of the force, he has been chief since 2002.
