KEY POINTS

  • The father called 911 before the disappearance and said "people want to erase me"
  • He claimed to have secret information about the Sept. 11 terrorist attack
  • A grandmother with dementia was left behind and later found disoriented in the neighborhood

A family of four was found in Wisconsin after they went missing from their Michigan home.

The father had shown "paranoid behaviors" on a 911 call before his disappearance and claimed his family needed police protection because he had secret information about the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, officials said.

Anthony and Suzette Cirigliano, both 51, and sons Brandon, 19, and Noah, 15, disappeared on Oct. 16, leaving behind Suzette's mother with dementia and their pets, the New York Post reported.

Officials closed the case into their disappearance after the family was found in Stevens Point on Sunday.

"All members were interviewed and determined to be safe," Fremont police Chief Tim Rodwell said, as quoted by MLive.

"They are still of the opinion that people are after them, but the elements of the investigation do not meet the criteria for protective custody," Rodwell continued.

Prior to the disappearance, Anthony had called 911 saying he had information about Sept. 11 attack. He also said his family was in danger because of it.

He told the 911 dispatcher that the information is of "vital national interest" and that "people want to erase me from the face of the earth."

Referring to a local police officer in his town, Anthony said on the call, "I'm not crazy. Mr. Geeting knows me. I'm a Christian. I just need some help. I know this sounds crazy. You don't have instructions for this."

Police responded to the family's home just after midnight on Oct. 16 following the 911 call, ABC 7 Chicago reported.

"My officers talked with him at length and just were concerned about his mental well-being," Rodwell said. "They made contact with Suzette and looked at the two boys to make sure they were OK."

Anthony and his family were seen at a gas station in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on Oct. 17. Surveillance footage showed the four family members buying food and fuel, the police said in an update.

Suzette's elderly mother, who was living with the Ciriglianos and needs full-time care, was found disoriented and wandering in the neighborhood on Oct. 17. She was placed in the care of other family members.

"The Cirigliano Family is very concerned about their missing family members ... They were found to have unexpectedly left their home in Fremont, Michigan," the police previously said on Facebook.

In the statement given after the family was found Sunday, Rodwell said, "This investigation will be closed and we wish to thank all of those individuals who assisted in the investigation by calling in tips and sharing the information to help locate this family."

Police lights
Representation. The lights of a police car. diegoparra/Pixabay
Michigan