Crime & Safety

UPDATED: A Week Later, Search Still on for Missing Boston College Student [VIDEO]

Have you seen this man? A timeline of events in the search for Franco Garcia, whose whereabouts is a mystery.

[Update: Boston College published a letter informing students of the resources available to them in the BC Chronicle. This information has been added to the article.
State Police have no updates at this time. 12:53 p.m.]

It's been a week since friends and family have seen missing . He was last spotted at Mary Ann's bar in Cleveland Circle (Brighton) around 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Garcia, a West Newton resident, is described as a Hispanic male, 21, about 5'9" tall and 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a blue-and-white-striped button-down shirt, a North Face jacket, and glasses.

Find out what's happening in Brooklinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Anyone with information about Garcia's disappearance is asked to contact Newton Police at 617-796-2100 or Massachusetts State Police at 617-727-4812. Or leave a comment in the comments section below.

In addition to state and local police resources, friends and family have mobilized to try and locate the missing man. Here is a timeline of events in the search for Garcia:

Find out what's happening in Brooklinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tuesday, Feb. 21

  • Franco Garcia parks his car near the Chestnut Hill Reservoir on the Boston College campus. Garcia and friends go to Mary Ann's bar. 

Wednesday, Feb. 22

  • 12:15 a.m.: The last time friends recall seeing Garcia at the bar. 
  • 1:15 a.m.: Last known signal from Garcia's phone, somewhere near the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.

Friday, Feb. 24

  • Public is made aware of Garcia's disappearance. .

Saturday, Feb. 25

  • Garcia's friends . They hang flyers in Cleveland Circle and surrounding neighborhoods.

Sunday, Feb. 26

  • Police scan the surface of the reservoir with a helicopter; they find nothing.

Monday, Feb. 27

  • : negative results from one possible object, and from a 'side sonar scan.'
  • : nothing found.

Tuesday, Feb. 28

  • : still nothing.
  • Police, State Police recruits, and search and rescue teams search the perimeter of the reservoir: still nothing.

Wednesday, Feb. 29

  • State Police head back to the reservoir for what they say is one last attempt at finding evidence. They plan to use the side-scan sonar device again to look at the bottom of the reservoir.

Online and Social Media Efforts

While the searches have gone on in Chestnut Hill, the friends of Franco Garcia have taken to social media to aid in the search, creating a Facebook group and Twitter account: @FindFranco. They have also attempted to enlist the help of  local celebrities who tweet to help spread the message.

Rachele Reis and Amelia Zani, two of Garcia's friends and classmates, are also asking anyone who may have taken photos at Mary Ann's Tuesday night -- regardless of whether they know if Garcia is in them -- to send them to findfrancobc@gmail.com. Photos will remain private unless Garcia is spotted.

School Resources

In a letter sent by Boston College Vice President for Student Affairs Patrick Rombalski, published in the BC Chronicle

This incident has affected many in our community and I want to remind you that the University has a number of resources available to students, including our Counseling Services Office at x2-3310, the Office of Residential Life at x2-3060, the Office of the Dean for Student Development at x2-3470, and Campus Ministry at 2-3475. If you wish to talk with someone outside of our regular office hours (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.), please contact the Boston College Police Department at x2-2440 at any time (24/7). BCPD can put you in touch with our psychologist on call (24/7), as well as the resident minister on call (24/7). 

 

Again, anyone with information about Garcia's disappearance is asked to contact Newton Police at 617-796-2100 or Massachusetts State Police at 617-727-4812, or e-mail BC Police Sergeant Jeff Postell: jeffrey.postell@bc.edu. Or leave a comment in the comments section below.


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