Wayne's 15-Year-Old Grandson Is Missing

LOS ANGELES - Anthony Wayne, the 15-year-old grandson of the late John Wayne, was reported missing, and his father has offered a $5,000 reward, authorities said today.

The teenager's father, Patrick Wayne, filed a missing-persons report Tuesday evening, police Lt. Pat Conmay said. A Juvenile Division detective has been assigned to the case, and a description of the youth has been entered into a national computer housing reports for missing people, he said.

"We have not discovered evidence of foul play, so the case is being handled as a missing person," Conmay said.

Flyers with a description of the teen were passed out to police divisions, especially in the San Fernando Valley, where the boy was last believed to have been. He was last seen on his way to school at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

"There has been no note; we have heard absolutely nothing," said publicist Maurice Segal who represents actor Patrick Wayne. Segal said Anthony moved from his mother's home in Idaho about three weeks ago. Anthony's parents are divorced, Segal said.

"Everything was fine. There were no problems. He was very well adjusted," Segal said.

Patrick Wayne also has a 25-year-old son living with him, Segal said. He has a 21-year-old daughter who lives in Newport Beach, Segal said.

It was not the first scare for John Wayne's family. The ex-husband of his daughter Aissa Wayne was accused of hiring hit men to beat Aissa during a bitter child-custody battle.

Dr. Thomas Gionis has pleaded innocent to the charges. A jury deadlocked during the first trial for the orthopedic surgeon from Pomona. Gionis, 37, was accused of ordering the Oct. 3, 1988, attack on Aissa Wayne and her then-boyfriend, tennis amateur Roger Luby.