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Trusted insurance agent mysteriously goes missing with client premiums unpaid

LOWELL, Mass. — The mysterious disappearance of an insurance agent has left customers in a tight spot.

Bryan Provencher, an insurance agent in Hudson, New Hampshire, was last seen in Lowell, Massachusetts on July 31.

He has an insurance office there and over the past few days, we've been hearing from some of his customers who say he took their money -- and never paid insurance premiums.

One woman who spoke to Boston 25 News said she’s been insuring through Provencher’s office for 30 years.

She was at the office Thursday because even though she paid her premiums, her insurance was on the verge of cancellation.

Even still, she expressed worry and concern for Bryan Provencher, the 48-year-old husband and father who left behind so many questions.

“[He’s] very polite … I would have never thought this would happen. Never,” a customer, Lillian Rosenberger, told Boston 25 News.

The strange disappearance is now ten days old and it just got stranger.

Customers of the insurance agency he manages in Lowell tell Boston 25 News it appears that before leaving, he took their money -- leaving recent policy premiums unpaid.

“He's a great guy. So, no one seen this coming at all,” Jaime Kirby, another customer, said.

Kirby's daughter is one of the alleged victims.

Last month, she paid Provencher $750 to insure her first car.

“It's a big deal to a 17-year-old that worked hard for it, you know?” Kirby said.

But a shock came three days ago when Kirby said the insurance company told her the car was never insured because Provencher wrote them a bad check.

“So now we're no longer covered, so we're being asked to pay several more hundred dollars to get our coverage back,” Kirby said.

As word spread through social media of the possible theft of premiums, Provencher's customers came to the insurance agency looking for answers.

“Their payments are all messed up in the computer and everything. And we're trying to figure out it.

Trying to get all their bank statements and everything to show we paid our bills,” Rosenberger said.

And while there may be anger in Lowell, there is sympathy for Provencher’s family in New Hampshire, who are anxiously waiting for his safe return.

“I don't blame the family at all. I hope he makes it home safely. But I do also hope that he faces up to what he did,” said Kirby.

Provencher's family declined to speak with Boston 25 News Thursday.

We also got in touch with the state insurance division, the office of consumer affairs and the attorney general's office.

We did not hear back by the time of this posting.

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