Family asks for help finding missing Chester man last seen leaving casino

A man has been missing for weeks and his family is desperate to find him. The last time anyone saw him he was leaving a casino and the last thing that's turned up is his car torched.

"Very worried. Very worried," said Mary Ellen Payne. She wants desperately to hear from her son 38-year old Ira Bishop but she says she hasn't since May 15th. That was more than two weeks ago.

"Everybody's really emotional. Everybody's looking for answers," she said. Ira's mother, father and his daughter's mom all became worried when he didn't show up for his little girl's birthday. Cali turned 3 May 19th.

"He would never miss his daughter's birthday. He didn't even call and that raised a concern," said Payne. The family says the last day they spoke with him was the same day he went to Harrah's Casino in Chester where he lives. Police say they later found Ira's car a Dodge Challenger burned in Fairmount Park. Ira wasn't in it.

"His mother said to me and called me while I was working that they found the car torched. I had to pull over and just stop," said Marvin Bishop. His other concern is whether his son was targeted leaving the casino. He says Ira worked at a barber shop but had developed a gambling problem trying to make ends meet.

"He had concerns with his gambling and he was sharing with me. He said dad I'm messing myself up because I think I need to be able to stop this gambling," said Bishop.

Cali's mom fears he's in danger or hurt and she doesn't know what to tell her little girl.

"How do I explain to her when she asks for her father? What will I say to her? I'm just lost for words," said Ashley Young.

The family is struggling to hold out hope.

"The family is going through a rough time right now. Everybody wants answers," said Payne.

Call Chester police at 610-447-8424 if you have any information on Ira Bishop.