Mulberry Man Disappeared

PLANT CITY - Authorities are asking the public for assistance in finding a 27-year-old man who disappeared after cashing a $6,000 check about five weeks ago.

Paul Ryan Surrency

Paul Ryan Surrency left his job at Wal-Mart, 2602 James L. Redman Parkway, at 11:30 p.m. Feb. 29 and apparently disappeared, according to the Plant City Police Department.

Surrency was driving a dark blue four-door 1991 Honda Accord, Florida tag A23 9YN. He is 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds and has blue eyes. He has bull tattoos on each arm, police said.

"We know Surrency cashed a tax return check for almost $6,000 at a check cashing business on his way to work," Sgt. Jim Shultz said.

Police said a Wal-Mart security camera shows Surrency leaving work in his car. The video shows he made no contact with anyone as he was leaving the parking lot, Shultz said.

Relatives say he left work earlier than usual.

Beverly Hayes, his sister by adoption, said he was let go by Wal-Mart that night because he broke company rules by leaving the store area while on break.

"It seems odd to me that Ryan would suddenly disappear like that," Hayes said. "We hope that it is something innocent and he will show up without anything wrong. We would even prefer him doing something stupid with all that money, but that wouldn't be like him. The last thing we want is for him to be harmed in any way. He has so many things going on with his kids and family; we can't understand why he would just disappear."

Surrency's 2-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter live with their mother. The couple were not married and were in the middle of an amicable separation, Hayes said.

"Ryan loves his children," Hayes said. "The boy was born with a detached esophagus. Ryan did all he could to help feed and care for the child as he healed. The boy is fine now, and I know Ryan wouldn't just walk away."

Since the separation, Surrency has been living with his parents in Mulberry. He was scheduled to see a judge today regarding child custody rights.

Hayes said Surrency bought a cell phone in the Mulberry area the day he disappeared, but the phone has never been used.

Anyone with information should call Shultz at (813) 757-9200.