THE FAMILY of a father who went missing in America three months ago fear they may never really know what happened to him after a body was found near his abandoned truck.

Last week, remains believed to be those of Ryan Adams were discovered 1,600 miles from where he was living, but have still not been formally identified.

His stepfather Allen Gallie, of Mabe, said there had been a frustrating lack of information and help from the state police, adding: “It’s like banging your head against a brick wall. They won’t tell us anything and the only time we get anything is if we call them.

“We just want updates, even if it is bad news. We want to know if the body is Ryan’s and then we want to bring him home. He deserves to be home.”

Mr Adams, 34, had been working in Cypress, Texas, for an oil rigging company for the past five years after a 16-year career in the Army.

Mr Gallie first learnt of his disappearance when he received a letter from Ryan’s employer saying he had been sacked for not turning up for work.

“We kept trying his mobile but it was going to voicemail.”

Later the family learnt his truck was discovered in San Bernadino, California, a 23-hour drive from his accommodation.

His credit and debit cards had not been used outside of Texas since he disappeared on October 11, leaving no ‘paper trail’.

Since then information from the police has left them with more questions than answers.

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His former wife Rebecca Adams, with whom he has a daughter, Phoebe, 8, said: “We don’t think we will ever find all the answers and how do I explain that to my child?”

Police told the family 200 people undertook a three-day search of the area in which the truck was found, but the body, discovered by hikers last week, was just 300 yards from the spot and the coroner said it was likely to have been there for three months, based on its condition.

“None of it makes sense,” said Mrs Adams. “Why would he travel that far? It is so out of character, it’s beyond belief.”

A Facebook page set up by Mr Gallie and family following Mr Adams’s disappearance has proved useful for spreading the message and appealing for information.

Mr Gallie said: “Within days we had 300 members and have more than 500, and they are all passing it on.”

Mr Adams was a keen skydiver, having taken it up a few years ago, and also enjoyed rugby.

“He had said he had bought tickets to the World Cup in New Zealand, so at first I thought he had gone there,” said Mr Gallie.

“We were glued to the matches, watching the crowd and at one stage I thought I spotted him. Maybe I was just hoping.”

His British passport was found at his lodgings and his American passport was in his vehicle.

Mr Adams’s mother died ten years ago, but he has a sister Laura, brother Daryl, half-brother Domenic and uncle John Price.