By Sarah Moskowitz
"We don't know what happened after that point," said Detective Sgt. Fred Bauries of the Nassau County Police Missing Person Division.
Police have activated an alarm that will alert officers if Lam's car is stopped. He was driving the family's four-door, silver 1997 Honda Civic. The top half of the rear window is tinted and each door has a small visor above the window. The New York license plate number is CCY3716.
Police have checked hospitals in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Queens and Brooklyn, but Lam has not turned up. Searches in other area hospitals are continuing. Other police departments, including New York City's, have also been questioned.
About a month before he disappeared, Lam became a father when his wife, Fanny, gave birth to a son, Sunny.
Police and the family spokesman, Lam's brother Albert, said that Tung Lam was not known to have enemies, and they couldn't think of anyone who would want to abduct him. "We have no reason to believe there was foul play," Bauries said.
Lam is of Asian heritage, 5 feet 9 and about 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-yellow sweater with a blue stripe across the chest, black pants and black shoes. He has no notable scars or tattoos.
Lam has been a resident of Adam Street for about seven years and lives with his mother, father, wife, son and two brothers. He worked at the family business, the Great Wall Kitchen restaurant in Oceanside.
Lam disappeared one other time about eight years ago. He was missing for four days and was found at a motel across the street from the restaurant. The family has checked that motel and others in the area, but this time he has not been found.
Lam was taking medication for depression when he disappeared. His brother said, however, that family members recalled that Tung was in high spirits when he was last seen.
"When he left my aunt's house, he seemed to be really happy and had no signs of any unhappiness," said Albert.
Lam's symptoms of depression have been diagnosed by doctors as bordering on unstable mental health. Albert said he thought the condition could be related to his brother's disappearance.
"I think it's possible it could be some mental [instability]," he said. "Maybe he's feeling depressed. . . . Sometimes if he feels depressed he would rather [not] come home."
In 2002, about 2,300 persons were reported missing in Nassau County. According to Bauries, more than 75 percent of missing persons return or are located.
"The family is extremely upset right now and I hope the public will, if they see my brother, give us information," said Albert. Police and family ask that anyone with information on Lam's disappearance call the Nassau County Police Department Missing Person Division at (516) 573-5370.
