Police and relatives say he was last seen leaving home on camera Feb. 16.
TEMPE, AZ — A 32-year-old Tempe man was reported missing after relatives say he did not show up for work, and police are asking the public to help find him. Michael Bayne was last seen leaving his north Tempe apartment on Feb. 16, according to his family and a police bulletin.
Bayne’s disappearance has drawn a fast-growing search effort from relatives, friends and neighbors in the Tempe and Phoenix area. His family says the last confirmed sighting came from a doorbell or security camera, and they have not been able to reach him since. Police have confirmed a missing-person report is on file and said the case remains under active investigation.
Family members said Bayne was seen on a Ring camera leaving his home on the morning of Feb. 16 and then failed to report to his job the next day, which they described as unusual for him. A sister told local media the family began calling and checking with friends when he did not answer. After hours without contact, relatives reported him missing and started circulating his photo and description, hoping someone might recognize him or remember seeing him.
Police said Bayne is 32 years old, about 6 feet 4 inches tall and about 185 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes. Friends and relatives described him as active and social, and said his absence set off immediate concern. Posts shared by people looking for Bayne said he has diabetes and may need medication, a detail relatives have emphasized while urging a quick response from anyone who may have seen him.
According to accounts shared by the family, Bayne spent part of the previous day with friends in the Phoenix area before returning to Tempe. Relatives said he took part in a kickball outing on Sunday, Feb. 15, and later visited bars with friends, including Royale and the Bunkhouse Bar. Those details have been shared with investigators as the family works to reconstruct his last known movements and narrow the window of time when he disappeared.
Police and relatives have focused attention on the area around north Tempe, near Scottsdale Road and Mesquite Circle, where a neighbor’s camera captured Bayne walking through his apartment complex. That location, close to busy roads and commercial areas, has become a central point in the search. Friends have been contacting nearby businesses and residents, asking whether security cameras might have recorded Bayne after he left home, while police have asked anyone with relevant video to provide it.
Bayne’s vehicle has also become a key part of the search. Relatives said he drives a white Volkswagen Jetta and that the car had not been located as of the initial reports. Friends say the missing car raises questions about whether Bayne left on foot, got a ride or drove away after the camera captured him. Police have not publicly said whether they have confirmed the car’s last known location or whether it has been spotted on traffic or surveillance cameras.
In statements shared by relatives and friends, they said Bayne last spoke with contacts on Feb. 15 and then went quiet. One account shared by people searching for him said a cell phone location signal later appeared in Mesa, near McKellips Road and Country Club Drive, on the evening of Feb. 16. Police have not released details about any phone data in the case, and investigators have not said whether they have confirmed that report or tied it directly to Bayne’s phone.
Tempe police have not announced any evidence of a crime and have not named any suspects. The department has described the case as a missing-person investigation and has asked the public to call with tips. When police handle missing-person cases, investigators often work to confirm the person’s last known movements, contact family and friends, check hospitals and jails, and review available video and digital records. Police have not outlined every step in Bayne’s case, but relatives said they have been in contact with investigators.
Friends and family members have been organizing their own search efforts while trying to avoid spreading unverified rumors. People close to Bayne have been sharing consistent details: his height and build, his hair and eye color, and the time he was last seen leaving home. Several posts have included what he was believed to be wearing, describing jeans, a gray-and-white jacket and a blue ball cap. Police have not confirmed clothing details in a public statement, but searchers say the information may help someone recognize him.
Neighbors in Tempe said doorbell and apartment-complex cameras can help narrow a timeline, but only if investigators can collect footage quickly before it is overwritten. That is why relatives have asked residents and businesses in north Tempe and along nearby major streets to save video from the morning of Feb. 16 and the days immediately after. Some friends have also asked drivers to check dash-camera recordings, saying even a brief clip of Bayne or his car could help establish which direction he traveled.
Bayne’s relatives have described his failure to show up for work as one of the first clear warning signs. People who know Bayne said he had a routine and that he typically stayed in touch, especially with family. Friends said the silence felt out of character and prompted a fast response, including calls, visits to places he frequented and outreach to coworkers. The family has said the goal is to bring Bayne home safely and to get him needed medical care if he is without medication.
Police said anyone with information about Bayne’s whereabouts should contact Tempe police. Friends and relatives said they are also coordinating tip collection and passing information to investigators as it comes in. In missing-person cases, authorities typically ask that tips go directly to police so details can be verified and tracked, and relatives said they have encouraged people to report sightings rather than post them only on social media.
As of Wednesday, police had not released an update indicating Bayne had been located. The family said they planned to continue outreach in Tempe and surrounding cities as investigators review leads. The next milestone in the case will be the first official update from police on whether any new evidence, including video or vehicle sightings, has narrowed the search area.
Author note: Last updated February 19, 2026.