$10K reward being offered in case of missing CDC employee

ATLANTA - Police said a man working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention disappeared without a trace leaving behind things his family said he held very dear.

The sudden disappearance of his brother Timothy Cunningham is just surreal, not to mention unbelievably heartbreaking for his parents and two siblings. Anterio Cunningham is convinced his brother wouldn't just walk away from a great job at the CDC, a beautiful home and the dog he so dearly loves.

"My first mind is that something has happened especially considering the length of time he's been gone. Not having his phone, leaving his dog Bo alone, he just wouldn't voluntarily check out like that," Anterio said sitting in his brother's living room Monday.

The 35-year-old Morehouse and Harvard alumni is an epidemiologist at the CDC in Chamblee. Loved ones said he was just promoted to the position of Commander under the U.S. Health Service Corps.

"Tim is the consummate professional. He loves his job. He wouldn't just cast it aside. He's worked hard to get where he is," Anterio said.

Timothy Cunningham reported to work on Monday, February 12, but told his supervisors he needed to leave early because he was feeling sick. Loved one said he left his cell phone, his wallet, and his SUV at home. Atlanta Police are holding on to his cell phone as part of their missing person’s investigation.

Loved ones hope someone will recognize Cunningham, perhaps even as a John Doe in a hospital.

"We just hope he will just come home safely. None of this makes sense. He wouldn't just evaporate like this and leave his dog alone and have our mother wondering and worrying like this. He wouldn't," said the missing man's brother.

As of February 24, Cunningham has not been found. Cunningham's family has partnered with Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta to offer a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case, according to Atlanta police. 

Anyone with information on Cunningham's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Atlanta Police Department at 404-546-4235.