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Friends, co-workers of missing Southborough man turn to social media to help find him

Michael Kelleher.Photo courtsey of Lori Tavella Kelleher/Boston Globe

Concerned friends and family of a missing Southborough man, last seen Wednesday leaving a Boston Celtics game, on Saturday made emotional pleas on social media for people to help find him.

Michael Kelleher, 23, was employed as a waiter at Margaritas Mexican Resturant in Northborough, co-worker Lillianna Saari said.

She has set up a Facebook page to spread the word of his disappearance. And Twitter users are sharing a hashtag #findMichaelKelleher. A GoFundMe account was set up to raise money to hire a private detective to locate him, she said.

“I don’t think there’s any right answers, so I’m just trying to do anything. I just want to get his face out there for anyone to see in all areas,” said Saari during an interview.

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Saari, 28, said she works with Kelleher at Margaritas, where he has worked for several months.

“People hear this story and say, ‘Oh, he’s 23. Who knows what he’s doing?’” she said. “It’s just so out of his character. He would never not contact his mom.”

Kelleher was last seen leaving TD Garden at about 9 p.m., police said in a statement. He is six-foot-two, 150 pounds, and was wearing brown pants, a gray sweatshirt, and a Celtics jersey and hat.

Kelleher’s mother, Lori Tavella Kelleher, wrote on her Facebook page that her son went to a Celtics game with a coworker and was drunk when he left the game. The coworker waited by her car to drive Kelleher home, but when he did not meet her, she left.

His debit and credit cards have not been used since the game, his mother said, and the last ping on his cell phone was at 138 Tremont St. at about 9:40 p.m.

“I’m heartbroken, exhausted and so scared for my son,” she wrote.

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Tavella Kelleher declined to comment when reached by telephone on Saturday.

Boston and Southborough police said they are continuing to investigate Kelleher’s disappearance, but did not have any updates on Saturday.

Saari said she has also dispersed about 200 fliers to businesses and passersby near TD Garden, and other Margaritas coworkers have agreed to help this upcoming week.

“I don’t need everyone to donate money, but if they can just share the page… help to get his face out there and help to bring him home safely,” Saari said. “I’m trying my best to help his mom in any way that I can and share a positive vibe to give hope.”


Felicia Gans can be reached at felicia.gans@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @FeliciaGans.