Season One: Episode 6
Last Seen: Feb 1, 2003
21 year old male Matthew Alan Mullaney was was last seen on February 1, 2003 . Matthew had just begun a study abroad program in Florence Italy when he went out for an evening at a local pub – and never returned.
For many students the opportunity to study abroad is a highlight of their college careers, a unique chance to experience another culture firsthand – but for Matthew was it also the perfect opportunity to disappear into a new life?
Graduating highschool in the suburbs south of Boston in the suburban town of Scituate Mass. Matthew left for an unsuccessful two year stint at Fairfield University in CT, before he decided college wasn’t for him. With his family’s encouragement Mathew charted a new course and pursued his passion for music and art, including the opportunity to study in Europe.
Matthew arrived on Jan 11 for a semester at the Angel Academy of Art in Florence Italy. His enthusiasm was evident in his frequent calls home, as he told his parents about the new friends he was making, and how beautiful it was in Florence. Matthew also had plans to meet up with friends in Amsterdam that march.
Matthew was last seen Friday evening at the Lions Fountain, an Irish pub in Florence that was popular with American and other English speaking students. staff reported his behavior was normal, and that he spent the evening socializing with other patrons. He left around 2:30 am on Saturday Feb. 1, it’s unknown if he left with a group or alone. That was the last official sighting of Matthew Mullaney.
The following Monday Feb. 3 Matthew still hadn’t returned to his apartment. his roommates alerted his family, who also had not heard from him – which was unusual. He had left that evening carrying only his drivers license and insurance card, leaving his passport at home. To this day, There has been no activity on Matthews credit, phone or ATM cards.
Unconfirmed Sightings of Matthew began in Florence Just days after he was last seen. A pizzeria employee and a taxi driver both believed they saw the missing young man.
this would not be the last time someone would claim to see matthew mullaney
In April 2003, two months after his disappearance, A Dutch national reported seeing Matthew on a train from Dover England to London. The witness said Matthew was headed to Dublin for work.
In July 2003, an Irish woman claimed to have sat next to Matthew on a ferry from wales to Dublin. the woman stated that the man became agitated after it was announced the boat would be doing an immigration check.
Further sightings of Matthew would stretch into the following year. In Jan 2004 Matthew was reportedly seen at a pub in Galway, Ireland. less than a month later in February Matthew was described by several witnesses as being in bologna Italy, they said he appeared thin and disheveled, and he claimed to be English. None of the sightings were confirmed.
The last known unconfirmed sighting of Matthew was reported to police in late 2006 by An Irish couple who believed they had spent an afternoon with Matthew in Oscar Madison’s pub in Kinsale, Ireland a year earlier in July 2005. A photo of the missing Mullaney prompted the couple to make the tip a year later. They were convinced the man in the photo was the same matt from Massachusetts as he called himself they had spoken to that previous summer. The couple also told police that Matt from Massachusetts discussed keeping a journal of his travels so he could write a book.
Matthew’s parents would take several trips to Europe to search for their son, and his sister even went to study in Dublin for a year, but Matthew was never found. The Mullaney’s have sent DNA samples to EU authorities which are being shared with forensic teams across the continent in the possibility Matthew is a john doe.
If Matthew intentionally disappeared while in Florence – why did he leave so close to the start of the term and with no passport? One theory speculates he was struggling with the onset of an extreme psychiatric or physical medical condition – and wanted to take care of the situation on his own –
Although foul play was ruled out by police could matthew have been a victim of an accident on his walk home from the pub – an accident that was covered up?
If Mullaney is traveling throughout Europe he may have a beard or facial hair. He also has pierced ears, but may not be wearing earrings. Mullaney has surgical scars on his left ankle and pins inside. Most distinctly Matthew has a flaming shamrock tattoo in the center of his upper back.
his family describes him as having a gentle spirit, quick wit and beautiful smile. Although there has been little news for well over a decade his heartbroken family have not given up on finding their son.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Matthew Alan Mullaney please contact his mother Terri 781 545 6995 the FBI Boston or leave an anonymous tip online at tips.fbi.gov
Last Seen: Missing Persons 