Missing teen Corey Brown’s family made a public plea for their son to return home in a press conference Thursday evening.

The family delivered the tearful message in the Marshalltown Public Library community room. Corey’s mother Michelle Brown, father Craig Brown and older brother Sammy Brown spoke.

“Corey, if you’re out there bud, you’re not in trouble, just come home,” Craig said.

Michelle had tears in her eyes as she tried to reach her son.

“Please, please just come home. We want you safe at home. We love you so much,” she said. “Parents, if this was your child, you’d want them home too & get Corey home to us please.”

Sammy, 16, said more people than just Corey’s immediate family want to know he is safe.

“It’s not just us that want you home, there are so many people who came over yesterday, just looking for you. And today too,” he said.

Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper gave an update on the investigation at the press conference as well.

“This is still a very active investigation. It’s a missing person investigation. We’re exploring all scenarios and possibilities,” he said. “We know of no evidence or information that indicates that any crimes have occurred here, or that Corey was abducted.”

Otherwise, Tupper said the police do not yet have a lead on where Corey may be. He said the second day of searching for the teen ended Thursday and the search will resume around mid-morning Friday.

While police want residents and business owners to continue to search their properties for signs of Corey, Tupper said volunteers from the public are not being sought to be part of a professional search party.

He said Marshalltown Police, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, local fire departments and other professionals are conducting the search. Tupper said there is also support from state and federal officials.

The search operations have so far focused on Marshalltown’s south side because that is where Corey lives and where he was last seen.

Bodies of water nearby have been searched multiple times and the agencies will continue searching them.

Tupper said he has heard from some in Marshalltown’s immigrant community that if they come forward with information they could be reported as undocumented. He said local agencies are only interested in information that could help lead to Corey’s location.

Tupper said Corey ran away from home due to a “normal parental discussion … nothing extraordinary” that caused the young man to get upset and leave. He did not have his cell phone when he left.

“Keep praying for Corey and his family,” Tupper said.

Community steps up

Minuteman Printing’s Marshalltown location business operator Jonathan Bizios said the company is doing what it can to aid in the search for Corey.

“The owner of Minuteman has a close relationship with Corey’s grandmother. As a result, we have the means to help and this is something that we’re doing just … to try and find Corey,” Bizios said.

As of Thursday afternoon, he said the company had printed about 1,500 fliers with a description of Corey’s appearance and contact information for local law enforcement. Bizios said the fliers printed by Minuteman were provided for free.

One of the businesses displaying the fliers is Hy-Vee, 802 Center St. Store manager Alex Holm said he hopes shoppers pay attention to the fliers.

“We’re just trying to get as much exposure to the community as we possibly can,” he said. “We’re a big hub for people in town, so we figured we’d be a good spot for it.”

Baggers at both Hy-Vee and Fareway, 102 W. Anson St., were given hundreds of fliers to stuff into shoppers’ grocery bags after checkout.

Marshalltown Schools Communications Director Andrew Potter said Corey’s classmates at Miller Middle School are aware of his disappearance.

“We’ve had some additional counselors at Miller. The AEA (Area Education Agency) provided us with their crisis team,” Potter said.

Thursday was the first full day of classes since Corey’s disappearance because of school cancelation. The weather has been bitter, with snow and ice abound in central Iowa.

Potter said the school district has been in contact with police to get information out about Corey’s disappearance. He said emails were sent to district families about Corey,

informing them to contact police if they have any information on his whereabouts.

Corey was last seen in the Jackie Terrace area of Marshalltown around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Corey is 5 feet tall and has brown hair. He was wearing a red shirt, black pants and grey shoes with a lime green Nike logo. His coat is black and lime green and matches his Seattle Seahawks stocking cap. He does not have his cell phone.

Marshalltown police officials are urging anyone with information that could help find Corey to call 641-754-5725. Residents and business owners have also advised to search their properties thoroughly for signs of Corey.

If you have information

on Corey Brown, please contact the Marshalltown Police

Department at 641-754-5725 or contact Marshall County Crime Stoppers at 641-753-1234, via text by texting the word “marshall” followed by the tip to CRIMES (274637), or online at

www.marshallcountycs.com.

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Contact Adam Sodders at

(641) 753-6611 or asodders@timesrepublican.com