ROCKLAND — It has been 16 days since anyone heard from 31-year-old Kevin Crute of Cushing, and today the Knox County Sheriff's Office announced that Crute's family is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads directly his whereabouts.

Crute was last seen at Andes Market on Route 1 in Warren May 21, a Tuesday. Since that day, nobody has heard from him, not family and not friends.

The search for Crute became public May 25, when his parents reported him missing to law enforcement. According to Knox County Chief Deputy Tim Carroll, Crute is known to be "very social" and that he communicated with family and friends via phone "constantly."

The Sheriff's Office is working and utilizing the resources of the Maine State Police, the State Police Major Crimes Unit, Maine Warden Service, Maine Marine Patrol, Rockland Police Department and other agencies in investigating Crute's disappearance.

More than 70 leads have been received to date and Carroll said the investigation will continue until Crute has been located. Crute is described as a white male, 6-feet 2-inches tall and weighing 200 pounds with red hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with direct information about Crute and/or his whereabouts is encouraged to call the Knox County Regional Community Center as well as the law offices of Cohen and Cohen in Waldoboro, 832-5363, the latter of which is representing the family. Cohen and Cohen is assisting in distributing information to the family, as well as determining reward eligibility as it relates to furnished information.