Franklin police to continue search for missing 20-year-old Tuesday

FRANKLIN, Mass. — Police in Franklin resumed their search for a 20-year-old man reported missing after he failed to return home following a house party early Sunday morning and they say they are "hopeful" he will be found soon.

Calling it a rescue mission in an 'off camera' briefing Monday afternoon, Franklin police said there was nothing to indicate foul play was involved.

Michael Doherty was last seen at a party on Phyllis Lane. %

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Police said they received a call from his parents around 1:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, saying their son never returned home from the previous night. Investigators began a search and asked residents in the area to check their backyards, sheds and other detached buildings.

MORE: 20-year-old man missing from Franklin neighborhood

Doherty is described as a white male who is 5 feet 10 inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt with a Nike symbol, black pants and sneakers.

Police said they found a shirt and sneaker possibly belonging to Doherty, near the marsh on Sunday. A section of Oak Street was shut down Sunday as crews began to search the water around Mine Brook.

On Monday, another sneaker was found in the wetlands behind Maplegate Country club in Bellingham.

Doherty is a 2015 graduate of Xaverian High School and is now a student at Duke University. A college friend told Boston 25 News that the president of the fraternity Doherty is a member of will be heading to Franklin.

Boston 25 reached out to Duke University and they released a statement saying, "The University is quite aware of the report and will assist as required by authorities. Our thoughts are with Michael and his family for a quick and positive outcome."

Massachusetts State Police were able to use a helicopter early Monday morning to help search from the air while crews continued searching on the ground.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call police.

Cox Media Group