Man goes missing along Amtrak route

A retired firefighter was reported missing while traveling on Amtrak from San Francisco to Montreal, his family and police said. Charlie Dowd, 69, left San Francisco Wednesday to visit relatives in Montreal and last spoke to his son by phone Thursday while just outside of Denver, CNN reported Monday. By time the train arrived Friday in Chicago, Dowd couldn't be located but his luggage, cellphone and wallet were in his sleeping car, his family said. Dowd's family said it's possible he spoke early Friday to a train conductor, who said the man was confused about his whereabouts and thought he was in an apartment. Amtrak and police are investigating the possibility Dowd got off the train near Omaha, was disoriented and didn't get back on, CNN reported. Dowd's daughter, Jennifer Dowd, told KGO-TV, San Francisco, the retired firefighter may need medical attention. "He has medical needs and does need his medication for high blood pressure and heart disease," she said. "He is diabetic but for medical reasons we obviously want him. We need to know where he is."