Family searching for man last seen in downtown Austin, traveling with group home

AUSTIN, Texas - The family of a man last seen in downtown Austin traveling with a group home is desperately searching for him.

27-year-old Malik Mitchell hasn't been seen or heard from since Oct. 18, 2024. He'd been at Victory Life Men's Home in Ben Wheeler, Texas off and on since 2019.

His aunt, Brandy Mitchell, who lives in Oklahoma, says men at the home go to different cities to sell bread. They've gone to Waco, Tyler, Austin, and even California. 

He was last seen at 6th Street and Congress in Austin. 

"We just want to know if he's okay. If somebody sees him, could you please let him use y'all's phone, you know, to call home.  We just want to know he's okay, that's it," Brandy said.

Brandy says Malik was supposed to go back to Ben Wheeler with the group.

"The director told us that Malik had walked off. He didn't show back up by the time it was time to leave. He claimed they stayed until about 2:00 in the morning waiting for him to come back, but he never came back, so they left," she said.

Malik is described as 5'10" and 145 pounds. He has a tattoo on his right arm that reads "F.O.E."

Malik Mitchell

Brandy and other family members came to Austin this past weekend to look for him, but no luck.

Austin Police say they've gotten a request to locate him. Detectives are in contact with the family, and there is no indication that Malik is in immediate danger.

"Malik is a good kid. He had issues just like anybody else, but overall, he's a good kid," Brandy said. "He's loved by his entire family. It's been hard knowing that he's missing. We don't know where he's at, who he's with. He doesn't have a phone to call anybody, so we just want to know where he is."

She says his social media appeared to be active.

"Someone was on his Facebook page, but come to find out, it was one of the pastors or one of the directors from the church that was on his Facebook page," she said.

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She says this is the longest they've gone without contact from him.

"To anyone out there, if you see my nephew, if you have a phone that he could use, tell him to call his aunt, his grandmother, his sisters," she said. "We just want to know that he's okay, he's not in any harm or anything like that. If you do see him, just let him know that his family loves him, and we just want him to contact us."

Victory Life Men's Home posted the following on Facebook about Malik:

"Malik Mitchell was recently a resident of our recovery program for men, as many of you know we are residential discipleship program that helps those who are battling addiction. Through the last several years Malik has been in and out of our recovery home when he was seeking help. Residents are able to leave our program at their own will and although it is common for someone with these struggles to leave a program prematurely, Malik HAS NOT BEEN SEEN OR HEARD FROM since October 18th, 2024.

"During the day of his departure where he chose to leave the ministry, one of our men's home directors contacted the family. We were not made aware by family or law enforcement that an official missing person's report was filed. We actually found out last night by social media posts circulating that he has been officially considered a missing person. Malik is very loved by all of our ministry staff and we are deeply burdened that he is missing. The same member of our staff immediately contacted the family last night after learning of all of this through social media and he gave all information he had.

"Our community is in prayer, and our staff are more than willing to be of any help to the family or law enforcement at any time. PLEASE SHARE, PRAY, & contact the numbers or contact us if you have any information to his whereabouts. HELP FIND MALIK!"