A Bishop O’Connell High School English teacher left his McLean home on June 17 and never came back.
Thomas Duesterhaus, 37, was fired from the Arlington Catholic school days before going missing. His father, Rich, said he believes the firing might have something to do with his son’s disappearance.
“We understand secondhand that his contract was not renewed with his employer,” Rich Duesterhaus said. “That might be enough to make anyone, but him in particular, distraught because his whole life was teaching, writing.”
Tom Duesterhaus left home June 17 in a 1999 blue Buick LeSabre. The car’s license plate number is XMT-8126, police said. “This remains an active investigation,” said Fairfax County Officer Bud Walker.
He was in his 15th year living with the Youth Apostles Institute, a group of men who help out with the Catholic Church’s youth ministry. Some are priests, but men like Duesterhaus have taken vows of poverty, obedience and chastity, with no benefits. He gave many of his paychecks to the community, family said.
The family wasn’t concerned until a woman called June 18 saying she saw a man leave a few things — Tom’s things — in Virginia Beach the day before. That was the last confirmed sighting, police said.
The next day, Duesterhaus was to meet with a group of about 20 gathered at Virginia Beach to go on a four-day retreat, but the group canceled when Tom never showed.
“We didn’t know what to think,” his father said.
Since then, there have been three or four reported sightings that “were not necessarily reliable.” Duesterhaus’ father said he received an email as recently as Tuesday from a stranger saying he saw him driving down Route 70. But he just wants to know if his son is safe.
“This really is not a manhunt and we don’t think there’s been foul play,” Rich Duesterhaus said. “If he needs time to reflect, that’s fine. We just need to know he’s OK.”
Past and present students from Bishop O’Connell, where he began teaching in 1999, have organized a Facebook event “wishing service” for Duesterhaus’ safe return. The vigil “to keep hope alive” is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. just outside of the school, 6600 Little Falls Road, in Arlington.
“The output of support we’ve received from this community is unbelievable,” Rich Duesterhaus said.
“The most important thing is that if someone sees him, I’m asking them to send us a phone call saying he is OK,” he said. “That would comfort hundreds of people.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Chris Flanagan at 703-246-7860 or the Fairfax County Police Department at 703-691-2131 or Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS.
