Man disappears after arguing with father of girlfriend's children

BROWNS MILLS, N.J. (WPVI) -- "I'm very worried," said April Berry. "I feel like something really terrible has happened to my son."

That's the mother of 20-year-old Cody MacPherson of Browns Mills, who hasn't been seen since September 23rd.

With help from this German Shepherd named Medic, a retired scent dog, a team of volunteers including Cody's family has been searching through local parks, marshes and abandoned buildings looking for MacPherson.

"We are not giving up, no matter what," said search volunteer Valerie Diedrich. "Where ever that dog leads us we are going to check it out. We are not stopping until we find him. People don't just disappear and not come back."

Cody McPherson had been at a local bar called Belly Busters where he got into an argument with the father of his girlfriend's children. Sources say that man, Alan McGinnis, threatened MacPherson. Now police can't locate either man and are concerned for Cody's well-being.

"In a situation like this, where there's some sort of acrimonious relationship with other people, it is concerning," said Chief David Jantas of the Pemberton Township Police "And the fact that we can't locate him is very troubling."

Berry said it is very unusual that her son has not reached out to anyone in the family.

"Something definitely happened," she said. "I can feel it."

The Burlington County Prosecutors Office, New Jersey State Police and local authorities are all working on this case. Anyone who has information is asked to call police immediately.

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