Highway 17, near Havenwood, remains a focal point of intense investigation following the unexplained disappearance of Mr. Arthur Lewis, a patient undergoing treatment at the Havenwood Psychiatric Facility. The incident, occurring late last night at the Redwood Rest Area, has triggered a massive multi-agency search and sparked renewed scrutiny of the facility’s protocols and the increasingly unstable mental state of its patients.

Initial reports indicate Mr. Lewis, 62, was last seen by a Highway Patrol officer, Officer Miller, at approximately 11:45 PM. Officer Miller stated, “He was… agitated, definitely. Just pacing, mumbling about ‘the mirror’ and ‘they’re watching.’ Nothing overtly threatening, but a palpable sense of distress.” The officer logged the sighting and, according to protocol, contacted Havenwood Facility staff. However, no subsequent communication was established.

A subsequent search of the rest area, conducted by local law enforcement and specialized search teams, revealed no signs of a struggle or forced entry. Mr. Lewis’s medication bag was found discarded near a large, reflective surface – a prominent highway sign depicting a stylized redwood tree. This discovery, coupled with the patient’s reported obsession with mirrors and reflections, has led investigators to consider the possibility of a voluntary departure, though the circumstances remain deeply unsettling.

“It’s… unsettling,” Sheriff Brody admitted during a press conference this morning. “We’ve had reports of similar incidents, though typically involving patients who’ve been released. The fact that he vanished without a trace, and near a highly reflective surface… it’s concerning.”

Adding to the mystery is the testimony of Mrs. Henderson, a truck driver who claims to have witnessed a brief, unsettling interaction. “I was pulling in for a quick coffee,” she recounted to reporters. “And I saw him. Just standing there, staring at his reflection in the sign. He didn’t seem to notice me. Then, for a second, he *changed*. Like… his eyes just went dark. It was gone in an instant, but I’ll never forget it.”

The Havenwood Facility has issued a brief statement acknowledging the incident and pledging full cooperation with the investigation. However, questions are mounting regarding the facility’s capacity to manage patients exhibiting such pronounced and potentially dangerous delusions. The Department of Mental Health has announced a preliminary review of Havenwood’s procedures, and further developments are expected as the search continues.