Illinois family searching for missing man, 36, whose car was found at Jackson church

Gabriela Szymanowska, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·1 min read

Family members of an Illinois man are asking for the public's help in finding him after his car was found abandoned at a Jackson church parking lot on Wednesday.

Ben Amenta, 36, left his parent's home in the south suburb of Flossmoor, Illinois, on Nov. 27, agitated saying he was going to go to a coffee shop, Charles Amenta, his father, said.

The family reported him missing when he did not return six hours later.

Ben Amenta's car was found with a dead battery around 10 a.m. at Redeemer Church on Northside Drive. The last known footage of him was in Marion County, Arkansas, after he stopped for gas. His family believes his phone may be dead.

Ben Amenta, 36, left his parent's home on Nov. 27, 2021, in Flossmoor, Illinois, and his car was found abandoned in a parking lot of a local Jackson church.
Ben Amenta, 36, left his parent's home on Nov. 27, 2021, in Flossmoor, Illinois, and his car was found abandoned in a parking lot of a local Jackson church.

Ben Amenta is bipolar and has been off his medication for several days, according to emails from a family friend and Charles Amenta.

Ben Amenta is described as being 5 feet 7 inches, weighing 130 pounds, and having brown eyes, brown hair and a brown beard. He usually wears horn rim glasses and was last seen wearing a blue sweater, blue jeans and sneakers, his father said, adding his son is very introverted.

Charles Amenta added his son is a gifted church organist and very religious. He said that a priest in Flossmoor, Father Mike, is waiting to hear from Ben if he'd like to reach out.

Benjamin Amenta, 36, is presumed missing in Jackson, Miss., after his car was found abandoned with a dead battery at a local Church. Amenta does have bipolar disorder and has been off his medication for several days.
Benjamin Amenta, 36, is presumed missing in Jackson, Miss., after his car was found abandoned with a dead battery at a local Church. Amenta does have bipolar disorder and has been off his medication for several days.

Charles Amenta added the abandoned car is now fully charged and there are notes left in it for his son from the family if Ben Amenta were to return.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Flossmoor police (708) 957-4500 or Jackson Police Department at (601) 960-1217.

Have a news tip? Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com, on Twitter or at 601-215-4292.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Missing Illinois man's car found left in Jackson church parking lot