A 41-year-old New Port Richey man has been missing since the middle of the night, last seen riding a bicycle near a busy western Pasco County intersection with no shirt on. Curtis LeMasters was reported missing early Thursday morning, and deputies say they need the public's help tracking down where he went.
According to Tampa Free Press, LeMasters was last seen near the intersection of Little Road and Massachusetts Avenue in New Port Richey. Per deputies, he may be riding a bicycle, and he was not wearing a shirt at the time of his disappearance. He was reportedly dressed in black shorts, black shoes, and an orange camouflage hat that reads “Big Buck Deer Hunter.”
The Pasco Sheriff's Office has asked the public for help locating LeMasters, who was last seen at approximately 12:50 a.m. Thursday, according to the Pasco Sheriff's Office. LeMasters is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing roughly 180 pounds, with red or blonde hair and blue eyes.
A High-Traffic Corridor at a Late Hour
The spot where LeMasters was last seen sits along a heavily traveled arterial corridor in western Pasco County, lined with strip commercial centers and suburban roadways, according to FDOT District 7 studies. That kind of intersection often carries both heavy overnight vehicle flow and potential surveillance camera coverage from nearby businesses, though it remains unclear whether any footage has captured his path since he was last seen.
It is also unknown where LeMasters was headed when he disappeared, or whether he has any medical or cognitive conditions that could affect the search. The sheriff's office has not released additional details answering either question.
How Florida Law Shapes the Search
Contrary to a common misconception, Florida law does not allow any waiting period before a missing adult report can be filed. Under Florida Statute 937.021, law enforcement agencies must accept missing adult and missing child reports immediately, according to Online Sunshine. That same statute requires local agencies to enter missing person reports into the Florida Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center databases without delay, broadcasting the case to law enforcement statewide and nationwide.
If LeMasters is not located within 90 days of the report being filed, state law requires the investigating agency to attempt to collect biological DNA samples for national database matching, per Florida Statute 937.021(6). Florida also maintains distinct alert systems depending on a missing adult's circumstances: Purple Alerts apply to adults with intellectual, developmental, or cognitive disabilities whose disappearance poses an immediate threat, while Silver Alerts are limited to older adults or those with verified cognitive impairments who are traveling in a motor vehicle. Since LeMasters was reportedly on a bicycle rather than in a car, his case would fall outside Silver Alert parameters, which is why local missing person bulletins like this one are the primary tool being used to reach the public.
The Pasco Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Chris Nocco and headquartered at 8661 Citizens Drive in New Port Richey, also operates a Deployable Emergency Response Team within its Emergency Management Division, giving it specialized personnel and rescue gear for searching difficult terrain during cases like this one. As of early 2025, more than 3,200 people were registered as missing or endangered in Florida's National Crime Information Center database, according to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, underscoring how many active searches Florida agencies juggle at any given time.
What to Do If You Have Information
Anyone with information on LeMasters's whereabouts is asked to contact the Pasco Sheriff's non-emergency line at 727-847-8102 and select option 7. Tips can also be submitted online through the sheriff's office tip portal. New Port Richey has seen a string of similar searches this year, including a Wesley Chapel teen found safe after a weeklong search, and earlier cases involving missing adults and teens across Pasco County.
