GILFORD — When Kevin King didn't show up for his doctor's appointments last year in June, a local care-giving organization sent police to his trailer, where he lived alone. Authorities found the door locked, and inside they found his cell phone, wallet and keys as well as one window slightly open.

But they didn't find King, who was 59 and had some medical problems but was known for never missing appointments. An extensive search near his Old Lakeshore Road home by law enforcement and family members found no clues. He was last seen on June 9, 2011, according to police.

A year later, the search continues, and another full ground search will be conducted this fall by a group of retired law enforcement agents and private investigators in New England called Mission for the Missing and their partners, the New Hampshire League of Investigators, said Alan Tate of Mission for the Missing.

King's family contacted Mission for the Missing in January. Tate's group and their New Hampshire League partners are all-volunteer organizations that make use of volunteer search teams with trained dogs in trying to help families find missing loved ones.

Tate said the groups' investigators began interviewing family members, friends and visiting stores in January, trying to pick up King's trail somewhere.

King was being treated for a bipolar disorder, Tate said, as well as for diabetes and dementia. He also had a hearing problem. It's not known if King's health problems could have contributed to his disappearance.

“Basically, we don't know where he is,” said Tate, a 30-year veteran private investigator.

“In some of these cases, people can disappear for a year or more and turn up in some other town; sometimes they don't want to be found. Sometimes a more thorough search of the area finds some remains of a person. We just don't know.”

The investigative groups rarely talk publicly about their cases, as police and others will put out “missing” signs and advertisements, he said. But in this case, since it's been a year since King was reported missing, the groups are asking for the public's help and they've issued a photo of him.

If he's still not found by the fall, the group's volunteers will work with law enforcement and conduct another intensive search near his trailer, Tate said.

King is 5-feet-5 tall, weighs 180 to 200 pounds, has brown but graying hair and may have had eyeglasses with him. His clothing at the time of his disappearance was unknown. Anyone with information about him is asked to call the organization's tip line at (866) 815-6581 or email alantate@missionforthemissing.com.

Tate said the volunteer investigators will continue the search as they always do when called to a case.

“We're professionals who just want to give back, and we just have the feeling sometimes that if someone doesn't pick up the search, no one else will. It gives the families some solace, knowing that someone will keep looking,” he said.

dseufert@newstote.com