Families seek answers at Missing in Arizona Day
Families and loved ones of missing and unidentified people looked for answers Saturday at the third annual Missing in Arizona Day at Arizona State University’s West Campus.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s Office were on hand to answer questions and gather information to help find 2,000 missing people and identify the remains of 1,500 individuals found in Arizona.
At the event, families shared information and gave DNA samples, fingerprints and dental records that may help identify or locate missing loved ones. In addition to the two Maricopa County agencies, other groups participating included the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office, a Mexican consulate, the Guatemalan Consulate and dental groups.
According to Christen Eggers, a cocreator of Missing in Arizona Day, the goal is to “bridge the gap between the missing and the unidentified.”
Between the first and second years of the event, authorities resolved 19 cases from DNA samples, according to Phoenix police Sgt. Vince Lewis.
Ivan Sanchez sought answers on the whereabouts of his brother, Cesar Sanchez, who has been missing for over a year.
Ivan Sanchez, a native of Sinaloa, Mexico, said he last spoke with his brother on Oct. 15, 2016, right before Cesar crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. Ivan had his brother’s Mexican identification and some pictures in hopes of finding him.
“My expectation is to maybe get good news but at least know what happened to him,” Sanchez said. “Not knowing what happened is very hard.”
Oscar Padilla of the Guatemalan Consulate said he was there to see if any remains matched information that Guatemalan families had provided.
According to Padilla, 25 identified remains have been sent back to Guatemala after reports of matching cases.
“If they have a missing person they want to report, this is the time, this is the place,” Padilla said. “We know this is a difficult process and a difficult situation, but that’s why we’re here — to help them.”