Investment Buyer Went AWOL leaving escrow hanging....

[Laura Sciarrino]

Hi There!  We've got a bit of a dilemma about a missing buyer and would appreciate suggestions, ideas, etc.

 We were  approached with an offer to buy a duplex we own near Sacramento.  The deal was reasonable - so we agreed -- contract signed, and the buyer opened escrow with deposit.  All seemed straight forward -until the buyer disappeared.  

Escrow was due to close at the end of October.   The buyer went missing a few days beforehand.  No response to voice mails or texts  and the escrow officer hasn't heard anything either.   Now we sit in limbo.  

The buyer  is a member on this site.  So I sent a colleague request the day before escrow was supposed to close (Oct. 30).  The request was accepted - so I sent an innocuous note trying to see if I could get the guy to respond.  Nothing.  

So of course we're scratching our heads - did the guy die?  Is he in a coma?  Is he a fraud (but if that were the case, why open escrow, make a deposit and disappear?) 

Any suggestions?