UPDATE: Stacy Vantuyl has been found disoriented and hospitalized.

The owner of a popular barbecue joint in northwest Denver mysteriously disappeared early Wednesday morning, leaving prepared meats in the kitchen ready to be smoked.

Stacy Vantuyl, 44, proprietor of Ragin' Hog BBQ, 4361 Lowell Blvd., hasn't been seen or heard from since he vanished while readying for business, according to Denver police and family members.

Vantuyl, married and a father of two teenage sons, typically starts his day around 4 a.m. at the small, family-run eatery. His wife, Colleen, joins him about 8:30 a.m., after their sons have gone to school.

When Colleen arrived Wednesday, Stacy was gone, according to Tuesday Vantuyl, Stacy's sister. The back door was unlocked when Colleen arrived. Stacy's wallet, his cellphone and vehicle, a mini-van, were all at the restaurant.

"I know nothing was taken; no one had tried to rob it," Tuesday Vantuyl said. "He wouldn't walk away. He wouldn't leave his wife and family unsecured."

Adding to the mystery, Stacy had typed a text message about 4:30 a.m. saying he "thought" he "heard someone messing around in the dumpster," Tuesday said. The text, however, was never sent.

Denver police crime scene investigators combed the restaurant Wednesday, dusting for fingerprints and looking for other clues. They may have found a partial, bloody palm print on a wall. Other than that, there is seemingly nothing to go on, Tuesday Vantuyl said.

The missing and exploited person unit has put out a "missing adult" poster on Stacy Vantuyl.

"We've played out a million different scenarios. Nothing makes sense," Tuesday Vantuyl said.

The restaurant, which opens for business at 11 a.m., is successful and very busy, she said. More than 1,500 people have "liked" the barbecue's Facebook page.

Police talked with neighboring business owners off the nearby busy intersection of West 44th Avenue and Lowell Boulevard. They also have requested surveillance video footage from nearby businesses during the times in question. The restaurant does not have its own surveillance camera.

So far, there are no leads. No one has reported anything out of the ordinary, other than his disappearance.

Tuesday Vantuyl said she hopes an early-morning runner from a nearby athletic center may have seen or heard something out of place.

Stacy Vantuyl was not having any issues that would have driven him away from his family and business, his sister said.

"He works at the restaurant, brings the boys to basketball practice, it's his life," she said.

Stacy Vantuyl is described as white man, 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, with gray hair and green eyes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call police at 720-913-2000.