UNION COUNTY - Authorities are searching for an Anna attorney missing since last week while a divorce client alleges he's stolen money from her.

Patrick Cox, a former Union County public defender and 2004 candidate for state's attorney, hasn't been seen since last Thursday, say local officials, including State's Attorney Allen James.

James said Wednesday evening Illinois State Police, the Illinois Attorney General's office and the state Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission are involved in a search for Cox and his wife. James contacted both the attorney general and ARDC on Wednesday.

State police would not confirm or deny they are taking part in an investigation.

Attorney general spokeswoman Robyn Ziegler made the following statement on the matter late Wednesday night: "We have been requested to assist and will be talking to the state's attorney and state police about possible next steps (today)."

There are no charges or warrants for Cox's arrest, and the situation is not being treated as a criminal matter yet, James said.

"We're upset he (Cox) is gone. We're just concerned about where he might be and what's going on," he said.

Cox was last seen about the same time a client he was representing in a divorce discovered money was missing from a trust account to which Cox had access. She was tipped off when a $44,000 mortgage check Cox wrote from the account bounced, even though the client was supposed to have had $117,000 remaining in it, says Jonesboro attorney Susan Burger, who is representing Cox client's husband.

Part of the money in the trust account belongs to the husband, Burger said.

Cox's client contacted Cox and he assured her the matter was a clerical error and that he would fix it, according to court pleadings filed this week by Burger to freeze the trust account.

Cox has not been seen since.

Burger said she attempted to reach Cox several times over the weekend, even traveling to his house and private office along South Green Street in Anna. She wasn't able to reach him.

The Southern Illinoisan attempted to contact Cox at his house and office in Anna without success. Cox's house appeared empty Wednesday evening.

caleb.hale@thesouthern.com / 351-5090@thesouthern.com / 351-5090