As Search Continues, Friends And Family Of Duesterhaus Take To Social Media

A week after Tom Duesterhaus didn't  Fairfax County Police said Friday they had no new leads or developments in their search for the missing Vienna native, McLean resident and Bishop O'Connell teacher – nor have they found his car.

Tom's father Rich told Patch on Thursday night news that would have made Tom distressed enough to disappear and head to Virginia Beach, where he often went to clear his head, his father said. Tom was also scheduled to begin a four-day retreat there Monday.

Bishop O'Connell staff did not return calls about Tom Duesterhaus' contract. They posted this message on their website Thursday afternoon, which referred to him as a Youth Apostle, not as a member of staff. He is still listed in the school's directory.

         Praying for the Safety of Tom Duesterhaus Posted 06/23/2011 03:38PM

Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School is requesting prayers for the safety of consecrated Youth Apostle, Tom Duesterhaus, who was reported missing Saturday, June 18. He was last seen at Virginia Beach early on that Saturday morning.

Tom has been sighted three times since he went missing: swimming in Virginia Beach early Saturday morning, and twice on Sunday, both times near homeless shelters. Youth Apostles continued to hand out flyers in the area Wednesday, but no other sightings have been reported to police.

There has been no activity on Tom's credit card or cell phone, Rich Duesterhaus said.

While the search continues on the ground, family, friends, colleagues, and former and current students have taken to Facebook and Twitter, mobilizing search efforts, blasting information and pleas for help, and wondering what exactly made the guitar-playing, community-oriented 37-year-old disappear.

Lauren Luxenburg, who graduated from O'Connell in 2008, organized a Facebook group "Find Tom Duesterhaus." Within one hour the group had more than 100 members. Just before 5 p.m. Friday afternoon, the group had more than 1,350.

"He was a really, really enthusiastic teacher. He constantly made us think outside of the box," said Luxenburg, who had Duesterhaus as an English teacher during her sophomore and senior years. "He challenged us to be creative and tried hard to be inspiring. I remember he had a poster of the Dead Poets Society in his classroom, which I thought was funny because he always reminded me of Robin Williams' character." 

Some members of that group recalled his affinity for the nonfiction novel "Into The Wild," which documents the story of Annandale, Va., native Christopher McCandless, who took a two-year journey through the wilderness with little more than a rifle, a camera and some reading materials.

Some friends and former students fear Tom Duesterhaus was setting out on a similar journey.

"If you remember his saying something about where he would go - his "Alaska," one member wrote.

On a site that appears to be Tom Duesterhaus' blog,   a preview of the first chapter of his novel "The Loyal Treatment" also touches on leaving home.

His first thought is about leaving:  leaving this town of Hector’s Bridge  where he’s lived nearly all of his life,  leaving this town where, as he now moves on to his second thought of the day, his parents were hit by that oncoming car. Leaving. Simple. Simple?  Not that this is the first time leaving has crossed his mind – oh no – but  he can’t help but wonder on this slate grey November morning, the promise of snow thick in the Maryland air, what it might mean that he is waking up to this notion. Surely something. As he gets out of bed and slides his runner’s legs into navy blue sweatpants that read ‘Polk High School’ up one side, his feet into the off-brand running shoes, and his torso into a plain white t-shirt, he whispers, “Leaving Hector’s Bridge.” 

"I'm really concerned," Luxenburg said. "I keep hoping that there's just some reason he's missing. I've had alumni calling me worried sick, all of us who graduated are talking on Facebook and Twitter, we're all worried. I'm just hoping its a crazy misunderstanding and that he will re-appear soon."

On Twitter, friends, family and students blasted messages, spreading Duesterhaus' license plate number and possible places he may be: camping grounds, hiking trails, homeless shelters. Some expressed frustration with the O'Connell administration. Using the hashtag #findtom and #vabeach, users created a network that spanned from Georgia to Virginia to Chicago and the West Coast.

Here is a timeline of those tweets, the most recent coming first.

Patch will continue to follow this story as it develops.

June 24

pmhesse Peter Hesse Have you seen this person? http://is.gd/hmoqiM #findtom

TheMeegan Meegan Kelleher: Does anyone know of any message boards or websites that outdoorsey people frequent? Camping, fishing, hunting, hiking? Let me know! #findtom

MagicTony Tony Barnhart: My cousin, Tom Duesterhaus, is missing. Friends in Virginia, please keep an eye out for him. #findtom vienna.patch.com/articles/vienn…

ElCapitanSalty Chris C.: I unlocked my account to make this public, Bishop O'Connell HS may as well be the Redskins front office. #FindTom he deserves better.

 TheBeltTeam The Belt Team @FatherStefan Please RT. Youth Apostle Tom Duesterhaus is missing. Last seen in #vabeach patch.com/A-jBdd #findtom #vabeach

MJROFL Martha Rogers RT @jenjenrn07 Tom Duesterhaus missing since 6/17/11, last seen in VA Beach #findtom please pray and RT http://j.mp/iv7sN

Rebekah023 Becky BensonFlannery: Please help. Has any one seen this man: http://ow.ly/5pzt9 He is dearly missed. #findtom

 TheBeltTeam The Belt Team @william_mary @williamandmary @WMAlumni @WMNews please RT W&M Alum Tom Duesterhaus missing. Last seen #vabeach patch.com/A-jBdd #findtom

krifonz K to the Fonz: Plz RT this! RT @mike_nelson RT @TheMeegan: PLZ RT If you see a Blue Buick with VA plates XMT8126 call police! tinyurl.com/findtom #findtom

mike_nelson Mike: RT @emilieabegin Missing English teacher from McLean may be in Virginia Beach, click on the #FindTom hashtag for more info.

mike_nelson Mike: RT @TheMeegan: PLZ RT If you see a Blue Buick with VA plates XMT8126 call police! tinyurl.com/findtom #findtom 

emilieabegin Emilie Begin: Followers, please help with the search and RT this! - Missing English teacher may be in Virginia Beach - fox43tv.com/dpps/news/loca… #FindTom

emilieabegin Emilie Begin: Thank you, @kenjeong, for retweeting a tweet about my high school teacher missing. Everyone, keep tweeting those #findtom hashtags!

DCgal62 Diana M. Rodriguez: Arlington Catholic Herald - Local Youth Apostle missing - catholicherald.com: bit.ly/iKlfoP #findtom

DCgal62 Diana M. Rodriguez: Update: Fairfax County Police Say Duesterhaus Was Distraught When He Disappeared - Vienna, patch.com/A-j9k0 #findtom

TheMeegan Meegan Kelleher: Gotta sleep sometime. Wish I could help more from Chicago. Praying for good news in the morning. #findtom

chroniclebeauty The Beauty Chronicle: Keeping on the lookout for Mr. D. Not sure what's up with DJO - whatever it is sounds like a mess. #findtom

TheMeegan Meegan Kelleher: PLZ RT If you see a 1999 Blue Buick LeSabre with VA plates XMT8126 call police! tinyurl.com/findtom #findtom

AlexandraLong Alexandra Long: YES! Agreed! RT @mike_nelson: @AlexandraLong NOVA's gonna STORM Hollywood! But first....let's #FINDTOM

AlexandraLong Alexandra Long: Please help with the search and RT this! - Missing English teacher may be in Virginia Beach - fox43tv.com/dpps/news/loca… #FindTom

TheMeegan Meegan Kelleher: @dannypudi please help? RT my friend Tom missing since Sat driving 1999 Blue Buick LeSabre VA plates XMT8126 tinyurl.com/findtom #findtom

lauravand Laura Van Duzer: At each year's final faculty meeting, they acknowledge everyone who will not be returning. At that time, Tom was NOT announced. #findtom

kathyknguyen Kathy Nguyen @eddieroyal19 PLEASE RT missing VA teacher and catholic youth minister tom deusterhaus last seen in VA beach #findtom VA plates XMT-8126

clhoy7 Caroline Hoy: please pray for a teacher from my high school Tom Duesterhaus who has been missing since Friday #findtom

AlexandraLong Alexandra Long: Tom Duesterhaus, 37, missing in VA. An amazing teacher and friend. Please keep him in your prayers. Please RT! ow.ly/5pgFD #FindTom

TheMeegan Meegan Kelleher: @kenjeong :( PLZ RT Tom D missing since Saturday driving 1999 Blue Buick LeSabre VA XMT8126 call police! tinyurl.com/findtom #findtom

WhatsGoodCortez Chris✈ian Cor✈ez #findtom

AlohaArleen Arleen Boyd PLZ HELP! My friend @mike_nelson <His Friend is MISSING! Last seen in VA! PLZ Read & RT bit.ly/mJz1lQ #findtom

mike_nelson Mike: @DanaBrunetti A friend of mine here in VA is missing, last seen in VA Beach. Can I get a RT? http://bit.ly/mJz1lQ #findtom

mike_nelson Mike: Updates on my missing friend Tom Duesterhaus. http://bit.ly/mJz1lQ Please RT! #findtom

ViennaPatch: RT @lovinmyairman10: Praying that Tom is found safe and alive. Keeping the family including Fr. D in my prayers #findtom

melwadd MelanieW Hope you're okay Mr. D.. You're a great teacher, but more importantly, a great person. #Comehomesafe #findtom bit.ly/kwTWOe

emilieabegin Emilie Begin: http://bit.ly/kwTWOe #findtom Can't believe DJO would let go one of its most respected teachers.

emilieabegin Emilie Begin: Feelings of sadness have turned to anger. In not renewing Mr. D's contract, O'Connell can forget about receiving money from me. #findtom

ricewithlife Nicollette Fernandez I hate you so much right now #BishopOconnell. #findtom

June 23 

ViennaPatch Vienna Patch

BREAKING Sources Say Duesterhaus' Teaching Contract Not Renewed, Could Have Led To Disappearance http://patch.com/A-jBdd #findtom #vabeach

16 hours ago    

mike_nelson Mike RT @ViennaPatch: Update on Tom Duesterhaus coming shortly Stay tuned. #findtom #vabeach

TheBeltTeam The Belt Team: Bob - pls retweet @ViennaPatch Duesterhaus distraught when he disappeared FCPD says concern for his well being patch.com/A-j9k0 #findtom

missdelaney723 Alejandra Buitrago: Guys, seriously let's help #findtom #vabeach and pray he's ok.

Catholicgrlprob Catholic Girl Probs #findtom

TheMeegan Meegan Kelleher I constantly fret about things over which I have no control. #findtom

ViennaPatch :Breaking Update: Duesterhaus distraught when he disappeared, FCPD says. There is concern for his well being http://patch.com/A-j9k0 #findtom

emilieabegin Emilie Begin: People in VA Beach, my hs teacher, Tom Duesterhaus, went missing last Friday. Please help find him bit.ly/lUSC8H. #findtom #vabeach

mike_nelson RT @lauravand: Hey #vabeach: Please help #findtom. PLEASE RT http://lockerz.com/s/113423522

fairfaxcopatch Fairfax County Patch RT @ViennaPatch: Duesterhaus driving '99 blue Buick LeSabre,VA plates XMT-8126. http://patch.com/A-j9k0 #findtom

ViennaPatch :Duesterhaus driving '99 blue Buick LeSabre,VA plates XMT-8126.He's been known to frequent parks, shelters. http://patch.com/A-j9k0 #findtom

lauravand Laura Van Duzer: #vabeach please be looking out for our friend and coworker Tom Duesterhaus: http://bit.ly/lOEIKN #findtom http://lockerz.com/s/113425496

KathrynAC Kathryn Cross RT @ValerieZ14: The longer we wait, the worse I fear. Please keep him in your prayers. vienna.patch.com/articles/vienn… #vabeach #findtom

BallstonPatch Help find missing O'Connell Teacher Tom Duesterhaus: http://patch.com/A-j73w #findtom

mielesita Melissa Stevens To follow developments on Twitter, look for Patch using the hashtags #findtom and #vabeach.

BubbaSilii Caitlin Marsilii @LCLUXX very sad story, he's in my prayers #findtom

TheBeltTeam The Belt Team:#vabeach peeps please RT “@ViennaPatch: Help Find Vienna Native, O'Connell English Teacher Tom Duesterhaus: patch.com/A-j7BH #findtom”

ViennaPatch :Help Find Vienna Native, O'Connell English Teacher Tom Duesterhaus: http://patch.com/A-j7BH #findtom

BallstonPatch: Help Find O'Connell English Teacher Tom Duesterhaus: http://patch.com/A-j73w #findtom

Katiewalls21 Katie Walls: #findtom ballston.patch.com/articles/bisho…

ViennaPatch: For those following the Tom Duesterhaus story: We'll be using the hashtags #Findtom and #vabeach

ViennaPatch Update: Some of Tom Duesterhaus' personal property has been found according to a relative http://patch.com/A-j7BH #findtom #vabeach

Bethany Ziegler reported for this story.