Austin man’s disappearance a mystery

Christopher Robert Tiensch, missing since September, 11th.

UPDATE: Austin resident Christopher Tiensch confirmed dead

PORT ARANSAS, TEXAS – Austin resident Christopher Robert Tiensch drove to Port Aransas on Sunday to go fishing but disappeared, leaving his car in the hotel parking lot and his wallet and cellphone in his hotel room, Port Aransas police said.

Tiensch, 43, hasn’t been heard from since about 8 p.m. Sunday when he talked to his family after checking into the Holiday Inn Express, Port Aransas Police Chief Scott Burroughs said.

Dinah Welsh, a close family friend told the Corpus Christi Caller that Tiensch is a loving family man who stays in close contact with his 11-year-old daughter, 13-year-old son and his wife, Dané Tiensch, so his disappearance has frightened the family.

“It’s very, very unusual for Chris,” she said.

Tiensch is a former executive of an Austin technology company and is also said to be an avid adventurer who has climbed the tallest peaks around the world, including Mount Everest.

Over the past day, his wife has tried to recall each conversation she had with her husband, searching for anything unusual, Welsh said.

But the conversations were ordinary, and Christopher Tiensch didn’t sound as if anything was wrong.

Dané Tiensch started worrying Monday and that evening called the hotel staff to check his room. When they found his belongings undisturbed, she alerted police.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Tiensch should contact the Port Aransas Police Department at 361-749-6241.