What happened to Bill Fitzpatrick? 

Bill Fitzpatrick, an Anti-Poaching Pilot for one of the largest National Wildlife preserves in Africa, Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Congo, went missing on June 22 after departing Kano, Nigeria, en-route to Douala, Cameroon.

Bill's wife, three children and extended family, including Ridgefielder and brother, Ken Fitzpatrick, say there are far too many questions with no answers.

"We are looking for answers regarding the disappearance of my brother Bill Fitzpatrick and the plane he was flying in Africa. During the time he was preparing for takeoff from Kano, Nigeria there was a terrorist attack upon the airport. Bill never arrived at his next destination, Douala, Cameroon, the emergency beacon on the plane was never activated, and no sign of the plane or pilot has yet been found," explains Ken.

According to Ken, Bill was involved in the internationally supported anti-poaching efforts in Odzala Kokoua Park, Republic of Congo, through African-Parks.org. A U.S plane arrived on the African continent and Bill was flying it to Congo to be utilized to cease Elephant poaching.

Bill's family is desperately looking for answers. "We can not obtain any fuel records, radar logs, ATC transcripts and other evidence in helping us establish a trail of his activity, or what happened to Bill and his Cessna 172 plane," they state on a website they've created titled "Find Bill Fitzpatrick".

Ken says he became "very frustrated" on August 5 when the Wall Street Journal published a story about U.S. planes searching for the kidnapped Nigerian girls in Nigeria. "Why can't we use the U.S planes to look for my brother? He's a U.S citizen who went missing in that same vicinity."

Ken encourages readers to sign an active petition that will be sent to President Obama. "Help us find answers to what happened to Bill," he urges. "Take a few moments and sign the petition and then share our Facebook page with your friends, family, and acquaintances," he adds.

*photo courtesy of Ken Fitzpatrick