Bradenton Soldier Missing Since March

A Bradenton soldier has been missing since March after he left the Colorado Army base he was stationed at and was arrested and released a few days later in Texas.

U.S. Army Specialist Mason Van Kuiken, 22, left the base at Fort Carson without permission March 14 when he had three days off, WTSP 10 News reports.

He then reportedly drove to Fort Hood, TX, to visit a friend. On his way back, he was pulled over, arrested and had his car impounded after deputies said he had weapons without permits in the vehicle.

Van Kuiken then bonded out of jail March 17 and was last seen at a bus station in San Angelo, TX, buying a bus ticket for the trip back to Colorado Springs, the news station reports.

Van Kuiken's family told WTSP he may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which may explain his situation, according to Linda Craig, Manasota Operation Troop Support director and Patch Local Voices blogger.

As Craig told WTSP:

"Well, 'ghosting' is kind of a phrase that's used for military to say that 'I need help somehow, I didn't get the help, I'm anxious, I can't talk to the people around me anymore.'"

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office considers Van Kuiken missing and endangered, WTSP reports.

Sign up for the Bradenton Patch email newsletter to get our top headlines delivered straight to your inbox so you won't miss a thing!