Family believes missing New York man is in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Veronica Peressini speaks with her son on the phone every day. That was until 2 weeks ago when the phone calls stopped. Now, she’s the one making calls.

“I call hospitals. I call police departments. I called the morgue. I’ve done everything I can do to call and nobody seems to know where he is,” Peressini said.

33-year-old Matthew Peressini was dropped off by his mom at the bus stop in New York - he had been visiting and was now headed back to his home in Dallas.

He doesn’t own a phone himself - so he borrowed other people’s phones to call his mom at every stop.

“I spoke to him throughout the trip, regularly checked in with me. Talk to him 10 minutes before the station. That was the last we’ve seen or heard or know where he was,” Peressini said.

Other riders say they saw Matt get off at the Nashville Greyhound bus station on the evening of March 30. He went inside to use the bathroom and never got back on the bus.

“He is warm, caring, would help anyone would help anyone. And that’s what makes it hard- right now he’s missing. I’m hoping somebody’s helping him, because I know he would help them,” Peressini said.

Now volunteers are helping them on their search. They say having someone local makes all of the difference.

“It comforts them to know that ‘oh my gosh, there is somebody that’s going to help here.’ They’re not from here, they don’t know anybody and to have somebody that they can call that’s local in case they have to leave to go back to work. There’s somebody still searching for their kid,” Jennifer Ward said.

Matt was last seen holding a white duffel bag and had a rolling suitcase. He was wearing a black 76ers baseball cap.

“I just want to say Matt please please moms worried I need to know you’re ok. If anyone out there sees him, tell him to call mom - we’re all here to help him,” Peressini said.

If you do see him you can contact the Metro Nashville Police Department or ask him to call his mom.