MORRIS – New York State Troopers are still actively seeking a missing person, Yishiro A. Hamata, who has not been seen since June 16. Hamata was last seen last Tuesday in the Oneonta area.

Troopers are dilligently searching for Hamata, aka Tyrell Avery Rogers, and it is considered an open investigation.

“We are speaking to relatives and anyone who may know where he is,” said New York State Troop C Captain James Barnes of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. “Right now we are just concerned for Mr. Hamata’s welfare.”

Local media outlets have raised the suspicion that Hamata may have reported himself dead to The Daily Star in Oneonta in May 2014, and authorities are now questioning whether or not Hamata staged his own disappearance.

Authorities have indicated that Hamata has a history of manipulating his identity and has previous convictions of forgery amongst other crimes.