By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

The mother of a missing Hays man said she has received two phone calls from people claiming to have spotted the brown 1997 Chevrolet Suburban her son, Jacob Montoya, 22, was last seen driving.

Maria Montoya, Ulysses, said the latest tip placed Jacob — who has been missing since Sept. 30 — on Interstate 80 near Grand Island, Neb., less than a week ago.

Montoya said the man who called passed a vehicle and said the man driving the car resembled Jacob.  The man also noticed flames on the front grill of the Suburban, which bears Kansas tag 638 CVJ.

Maria said she and her family remain hopeful and are working non-stop to get information on Montoya’s disappearance to as many states and media outlets as possible.

A certified nursing assistant at Hays Medical Center, Jacob Montoya is 5 foot, 4 inches and weighs 170 pounds. He has dark hair and brown eyes.

Investigators said Montoya bought a pistol and ammunition before his disappearance, something Maria Montoya said is uncharacteristic of her son, who she described a “kind” and “generous.”

Investigators say his cellphone was last pinged in the Victoria or Russell areas on Sept. 30, and his last credit card transaction was Oct. 1.

Anyone with information on Jacob’s disappearance is encouraged to dial 911 or *47 for the nearest Kansas Highway Patrol dispatch.

Related: Hays man missing since late September.