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Written by: E. George
Published July 31, 2024 @ 3:00 PM ET
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. – Authorities and the family of Leonard John Beiner, a 57-year-old Lyft driver, are urgently seeking public assistance to locate him after he vanished while on a scheduled ride from Georgia to Florida.
Beiner, a part-time Lyft driver, was last seen on July 18 in the Ball Ground area of Cherokee County, Georgia. According to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Beiner was set to transport a passenger to Jacksonville, Florida, which is approximately 400 miles south of Ball Ground.
Since that date, neither Beiner’s family nor authorities have been able to establish contact with him.
A lack of information has complicated the search. Beiner’s family reported that his phone stopped accepting calls shortly after his last known location.
His stepson revealed that initial attempts to reach Beiner were met with the phone ringing, but later calls went straight to voicemail. The family waited before filing a missing person report, attributing the delay to Beiner’s history of isolating himself during periods of drug relapse. The concern grew when Beiner’s absence persisted beyond his usual periods of isolation.
In addition to his unresponsive phone, significant details about Beiner’s last known activities were revealed. On July 22, he checked himself into Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta but left the next day.
Deputies believe that his blue Hyundai Santa Fe, which might have had a Florida license plate, was potentially towed from the hospital premises. The car’s status remains uncertain, further complicating the investigation.
Beiner is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 225 pounds, with blue eyes, gray hair, and a cane.
Despite his role as a Lyft driver, a spokesperson for the rideshare company confirmed that Beiner did not accept or complete any rides outside Georgia on the day of his disappearance. The company has expressed condolences and cooperated with law enforcement to aid the ongoing search.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office is appealing to the public for any information that could assist in locating Beiner. Authorities are particularly interested in any sightings of his vehicle or any potential leads on his whereabouts.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office at (770) 928-0239 or call 911.
As the investigation continues, Beiner’s family and authorities remain hopeful that new leads will emerge.