Charred van is found, but siblings still missing
Burned vehicle on Galveston beach belonged to woman last seen days ago, searchers say
A charred van found on a Galveston beach belonged to a Houston woman who has been missing with her brother since last week, according to Texas EquuSearch.
Dina Escobar, 60, and her brother Rogelio “Roy” Escobar, 65, were reported missing last week, only a few days after family members say Dina went to look for her brother at his Houston home on Prudence Drive. She left in a white 2007 Chevy Uplander van with a taped back window and paper tags.
Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller said this weekend that his group found remnants of that van while searching in Galveston. Though fire had destroyed much of the vehicle — including its vehicle identification number — the group was able to identify it because of the missing back seats, which is where Dina Escobar would store cleaning supplies and other things, Miller said.
“I just thought, ‘Oh my God, this is the vehicle,’ ” he said. I’ve been on many, many, many searches over the years … but this case, this is more than just a normal missing person case.
“It has all the markings of foul play,” he said.
The siblings’ family has voiced similar fears. “We’re hoping for the best, but it’s been so many days I have a really bad feeling,” Dina Escobar’s daughter, Ligia Salamanca, told ABC13.
The Houston Police Department’s missing persons unit is investigating the case. A call to the Galveston County Sheriff ’s Office was not returned Sunday night.
Dina Escobar was last seen wearing a white shirt and black jeans. It’s unclear what Rogelio Escobar was wearing.
Anyone with information should contact Houston police at 832-394-1840 or Texas EquuSearch at 281-309-9500.