Woman finds missing brother after 25 years: What she then learns is deeply shocking

Lassen County (USA) - It's hard to believe: a man from the US state of California disappeared without a trace 25 years ago. His sister no longer believed it, but now he has been found alive. But he apparently has a dark secret.

Thomas Manizak (53), who was lying in a hospital, was found through an appeal in the media after he had disappeared 25 years previously.
Thomas Manizak (53), who was lying in a hospital, was found through an appeal in the media after he had disappeared 25 years previously.  © Facebook/Nor-Cal Alliance For The Missing

Thomas Manizak (now 53) was 28 years old when he presumably disappeared in August 1999. "He simply disappeared without a trace. Not even his vehicle was ever found," writes his sister Marcie Nasseri in a GoFundMe appeal.

But now what she never expected has happened: her little brother is alive and lying in a Californian hospital. She recognized him from an appeal on USA News asking for help in identifying him.

Lassen County police also confirmed that it was Thomas, who was being treated at a clinic in Lynwood after being found helpless on the street in Los Angeles.

Since he could not speak, it was initially difficult to identify him. Until now. "I was delighted to find him alive!" says Marcie.

A happy ending - one would assume. But according to several media reports, Thomas is a convicted sex offender.

As children, they were obviously one heart and one soul.
As children, they were obviously one heart and one soul.  © Facebook/Marcie Nasseri

Marcie finds brother she thought was dead: did he go into hiding on purpose?

But as an adult, the man apparently had a dark secret that he may have been hiding from his family.
But as an adult, the man apparently had a dark secret that he may have been hiding from his family.  © Facebook/Marcie Nasseri

In 1993, six years before his disappearance, he was allegedly charged with child abuse and had already spent several years in prison. At the time, he is said to have had oral sex with a 14-year-old girl.

For unknown reasons, the authorities allegedly failed to take the man's fingerprints, which made identification difficult.

It is still unclear why the then 28-year-old disappeared. According to Marcie, contact with the family suddenly broke off.

It is not known whether Thomas wanted to hide his actions from his family or whether his sister already knew about them before he disappeared. She told USA Today that it was "disgusting and terrible" what he had done. However, she would not abandon him as he was her brother.

According to the paper, he is believed to be in hospital due to a diabetic coma after not injecting insulin regularly as a diabetic. Marcie is collecting donations via GoFundMe so that her brother can be transferred to a nearby hospital and receive proper care.