BOONE?- After being reported missing nearly two weeks ago, the whereabouts of a Jewell man are still unknown.

Jesse Leopold, 23, was last seen leaving his place of employment in Jewell on Oct. 13.

According to his father, Jerry Leopold, of Boone, Jesse had told his supervisor he was going to go get his medicine just before his lunch break at approximately 6:30 p.m. that night.

When he learned from Jesse’s roommates that he had not been seen since he left work, Jerry posted on Facebook Oct. 15, making a plea for help in finding his son. The following morning, when Jesse’s purple, 3/4 ton Ford truck was found on Canyon Road in Ledges State Park, unlocked and with the keys in it, Jerry reported him missing.

Jerry said his son always locked his truck.

Sgt. Cole Hoffman, of the Boone County sheriff’s office, said there are no signs of foul play or that a crime has occurred.

“There’s no solid indication of why he is missing,” Hoffman said.

His father said Jesse Leopold was struggling with bipolar, depression and anxiety. Jesse had indicated to his father that he could not afford to refill his prescription, and Jerry Leopold has reason to believe his son was getting drugs from “shady places.” He said Jesse had been admitted to the emergency room several times, and when they drew his blood, they found drugs in his system that he had not been prescribed.

Because there is no sign of foul play, Hoffman said the sheriff’s department has not been actively searching for Jesse Leopold.

“We’ve done everything we can,” Hoffman said.

That has has included preserving any evidence that has been discovered.

“Any tips of his whereabouts that come in, we’ll do what we can.”

Boone County Search and Rescue has searched the Ledges several times, as well as the Des Moines River, looking for the missing man. Aiding in the search of the park also has been Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials and community members who saw the missing person post on Facebook.

Jerry Leopold said each day since Jesse’s truck was found at Ledges, someone has been out there looking for him.

“We’ve been beating Ledges to death,” he said.

Nicky Calmer, of Boone, a former classmate and friend of Jesse Leopold’s, is one of the community members helping in the search efforts.

“I got involved in Jesse’s search because I am a parent myself,” Calmer said. “If my child was missing, I’d love all the help I could get trying to find him. No family should ever feel like the Leopold family does – helpless, confused and worried.”Bloodhounds were brought in to aid in the search. Jerry Leopold said the dogs could not pick up his son’s scent on the ground outside the truck, indicating his feet may have never touched the ground at Ledges.

Because the dogs could not pick up his scent, he said the dogs did not search anywhere else in the park.

Jerry Leopold also has been talking to a psychic from the East Coast, who has indicated to him that Jesse could be by an area in the park known as Crow’s Nest. He said whenever he’s in that area of the park, the psychic will start texting him.

Until Jesse Leopold is found, the search will continue. His father said he appreciates the community’s willingness to help him find his son.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing,” Jerry said of the community’s involvement in the search efforts. “I am moved by the people living here.”

With no activity on his cell phone or bank accounts since he disappeared, Jerry Leopold said he does not believe his son is still alive.

“I find it highly unlikely,” he said. “He’d have to have some mad skills to make it two weeks in this weather without shoes.”

The boots his son was wearing at work were found in the back of his truck and it is not believed he had any other shoes with him.

If by chance Jesse Leopold is still out there somewhere, his father wants his son to know how much he cares about him.

“I love him and I wish I would have been able to help him with his mental stuff better,” he said.