MISSING dad Chad Mullen wanted to leave town to escape his ex-girlfriend before he vanished over two weeks ago, his mom said.
Mullen, who disappeared just before his 53rd birthday, was last heard from when he spoke to his daughter on September 9. His family reported him missing a week later.
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Mullen’s mom, Willette Arnett, said she talked to her son on September 3 when he told her he wanted to escape his home after a bad breakup.
“His life, especially being with that woman, was all crazy and out of control. I think he felt like he had to make changes in his life,” Arnett told The U.S. Sun.
Mullen, who has two grown daughters from a previous marriage and lives in Palatka, Florida, about an hour south of Jacksonville, recently ended his relationship with 30-year-old Caylen Deller after they dated for several months.
Deller, who runs a horse rental shop called Stormy’s Stables in San Mateo, Florida, was previously and falsely reported as Mullen’s business partner.
Read More Missing Persons
Cops told The U.S. Sun that they originally believed the pair were business partners based on information from witnesses.
“He had nothing to do with her business except for when she wanted him to go shovel horse manure for her,” Arnette said, setting the record straight.
Deller was arrested on Monday on larceny charges dating to February. The case is unrelated to Mullen’s disappearance.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the charges against Deller involve her alleged theft of a calf from another farm.
Deller, who has been arrested at least six other times since 2015, was released from jail on Wednesday – but cops said she won’t cooperate with the investigation into Mullen’s whereabouts.
Putnam County investigators said Mullen’s phone last pinged on September 10 near Stormy’s Stables and that he’s considered “possibly endangered.”
His appearance at the stables came after his relationship with Deller ended badly.
‘UGLY’ SITUATION
Arnette claimed that during their whirlwind relationship, Deller and her daughter moved into Mullen’s home.
“When he started dating her, he was really impressed with her,” the worried mom said.
However, problems quickly arose when the couple began fighting because Deller had doubts about their relationship, Arnette said.
Timeline of Chad Mullen’s disappearance
The desperate search for Florida dad Chad Mullen nears its third week.
September 3 – Willette Arnett, Mullen’s mom, last speaks to him on the phone
September 9 – Holli Mullen last speaks to Chad Mullen, her dad
September 10 – Phone records later show that Mullen’s phone pinged near Stormy’s Stables in San Mateo, Florida, which is run by his ex-girlfriend, Caylen Deller
September 15 – Mullen’s family reports him missing
September 20 – Police issue a search warrant on Stormy’s Stables and are unable to locate Mullen or his cell phone
September 22 – Mullen’s 53rd birthday passes and his family still doesn’t hear from him
September 23 – Deller is arrested for previous, unrelated charges
September 25 – Deller is released from jail
“She was a very jealous person,” she said.
Arnett said that Mullen was so terrified of Deller’s erratic behavior towards him that he considered moving to be near family in Texas.
“He got so scared, he hates El Paso like I do and he was telling me and his brother he wanted to move there and get out of there,” Arnette said.
She recalled him saying, “‘I need to get out of here, it’s too ugly.'”
POLICE RECORDS
Arnette reported that she got involved when the two had an explosive fight on August 25 – but police records revealed that cops got involved in the toxic relationship before then.
Documents obtained by The U.S. Sun show that Deller issued a trespass warning against Mullen on August 1 after he came to her home.
Honestly, I truly down deep believe that there are people that know stuff and they’re not coming forward.”
Willette Arnett
The warning states that Deller moved out of Mullen’s home for a “clean start with her life.”
“Caylen stated she no longer wanted to be involved with Chad,” the document states.
On September 1, Deller called police and reported Mullen for driving past the stables and “throwing firecrackers at horses.”
Mullen wasn’t at the scene when cops arrived.
CRYPTIC VIDEO
Arnette, who is retired and lives in New Mexico, said Deller refused to speak with her and immediately blocked her number when she reached out.
“Honestly, I truly down deep believe that there are people that know stuff and they’re not coming forward,” she said.
Arnette and friends of Mullen have left public comments on Deller’s posts on Facebook asking if she knows anything about her ex’s whereabouts.
While she hasn’t responded to the comments, Deller posted a video of her riding a horse on September 22, Mullen’s birthday, with a cryptic caption saying, “Let them hate you so you may love yourself.”
Deller did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
WORRIES GROW
Arnette said she was frustrated with Mullen’s silence following several missed texts and calls until she heard from his friends.
“The last text I sent, I was cussing at him for not answering back. Then I got a call from one of his friends,” she said, sharing that the callers were worried after not being able to get a hold of him either.
She became even more worried when she realized her son had vanished without a trace, even leaving his two dogs outside of his Florida property.
“He would not go off and leave those dogs for a week at the time,” Arnette said.
Mullen’s family issued a $6,000 reward for anyone with information leading to his return.
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“I pray to God that he is OK, that nothing sinister did happen. I pray that he is safe,” Holli Mullen, Chad’s daughter, told local CBS affiliate WJAX-TV.
Holli said she was surprised when she didn’t hear from her dad on his birthday as the two have a close relationship.
“His birthday was this Sunday the 22nd and we were supposed to go out for his brother’s wedding in El Paso,” Holli told the outlet.
“He wouldn’t disappear, at least not right now. He wouldn’t do that and not call me.”
Arnette said that even though it’s been nearly three weeks since his disappearance, she’s still in denial that Mullen is nowhere to be found.
“When I start accepting that is when I go nuts,” she said.
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