Authorities in New Mexico are actively searching for a man from Rio Arriba County who has been missing for over a month.

Identified as 36-year-old Joel “Deano” Valdez, the journeyman lineman was last reported seen on September 18. He was returning from work in Silver City at the time.

According to a report from the Santa Fe New Mexican, Valdez’s last confirmed sighting was at an Allsup’s convenience store located on Cerrillos Road.

Family members shared that Valdez departed from Silver City around noon on that day, heading back to his home in Coyote, where he resides with his wife, Vikki Valdez, and their three children. A credit card transaction revealed that he made a stop at the convenience store around 5:30 p.m. on September 18.

Additionally, Valdez withdrew cash from a Wells Fargo ATM near the same time. His family mentioned that it is normal for him to carry cash, and the withdrawal aligned with his usual habits.

Unusual behavior reportedly followed, with the family saying there were some potentially unauthorized charges on his debit card on September 19 at a gas station in Santa Fe. The following day, someone used the card for a car wash and a retail store.

On September 21, someone attempted to use the card three times, but the charges didn’t go through, since Valdez’s wife had canceled the card and filed a missing persons report.

“His wife had traveled to Santa Fe to look for him the days before,” Valdez’s cousin, Monique Garcia, said, according to NBC News. “She decided to call state police at that point and make the report.”

KOB4 reports that the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) is currently investigating this disappearance and the possible unauthorized charges.

A reported sighting of Valdez’s pickup truck, described as a white 2015 Chevrolet Silverado Duramax 2500 CRW 4×4 LT, extended the search into search to central New Mexico.

The truck’s New Mexico license plate is 248-THP.

“It’s word of mouth,” Garcia said. “There’s license plate readers along the highway. We don’t know exactly where it was located, but we understood it to be going and coming to Santa Fe.”

Meanwhile, national nonprofit, Angels’ Voices Silenced No More, told CrimeOnline in an emailed statement that a grant of $5,000 has been added to the family’s reward fund, in an effort to obtain information that can help locate Valdez.

“Let’s keep the pressure on and continue to really gather together and try and find him. Without answers, it’s just leaving an open wound, unhealed, and it’s really hard for us,” Garcia told KOB4.

Valdez is described as standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs around 170 pounds. He has brown hair, brown eyes, and is known to wear works boots, a t-shirt, and jeans.

Anyone with information should the New Mexico State Police. You can also contact Monique Garcia at 505-362-4738.

Check back for updates.

[Feature Photo: Family Handout]