Unlikely MVP of hit HBO docuseries went missing over three weeks ago
Patrick J. Pespas has been found over three weeks after the unlikely star of HBO’s recent hit docuseries Telemarketers had gone missing.
Adam Bhala Lough, the series’ co-director, announced the good news Thursday night, writing, “Patrick J. Pespas has been found and returned safely to his wife Sue. Thank you to everyone who has shared messages of support, donated and prayed for Pat’s safe return. One day I hope to tell the whole story but for now Pat asks that everyone respects his and Sue’s privacy.”
Telemarketers co-director Sam Lipman-Stern added in a statement, “Thank you so much to everyone who has shared supportive messages, helped Sue with her medical bills and her GoFundMe, posted flyers around, shared our posts and prayed for Pats safe return… He wants everyone to know that he’s ok.”
Details regarding Pespas’ disappearance and where he was ultimately found were not revealed.
On October 2, Bhala Lough tweeted that Pespas had gone missing, leaving his wife Sue (who requires medical attention, as seen in the docuseries) alone. Fundraising efforts began to ensure Sue had the help she needed while the call was put out via social media to find Pespas, who was reportedly seen in places like Pittsburgh and New York City over the past few weeks.
In a recent Rolling Stone profile of the show, Pespas was called a “living telemarketing legend,” able to “charm any caller out of their cash” through his genial disposition and innate charisma. Pespas did not shy away from his history of substance abuse, as the series showed him nodding off at work and using hard drugs. (In the series, we see Pespas subsequently getting clean.) It’s Pespas who told Lipman-Stern about the scam, as the series found him interviewing politicians, high-level cops, and others to expose the grift.
The docuseries itself faced a nearly decade-long delay after Pespas vanished mid-investigation. After resurfacing, the reunion of Pespas and Lipman-Stern fueled the conclusion of the project.
