Franco Garcia: Community makes push to find missing BC student
Luzmila Garcia knows in her heart that her son, Franco Garcia, is OK.
“He wasn’t supposed to vanish from this place. We need him to come home,” she said through tears yesterday, standing in Cleveland Circle where her son was last seen before he disappeared.
Franco, 21, was last seen Wednesday about 12:15 a.m. inside Mary Ann’s bar on Beacon Street. He was with a group of friends after coming from band practice at Boston College.
Friends said Franco, a Newton native that lives with his parents, was no where to be found when they left the packed bar at 1:15 a.m.
“We are staying optimistic and hopeful and can’t wait for him to come home,” said close companion and classmate Rachele Reis.
Since last week, Franco has not contacted anyone or shown up for classes or work. Franco’s car is also still parked at BC, according to Newton police.
“Everyone is worried about him. I’m asking, ‘please help us to find my boy,’” said Luzmila, clutching her husband’s arm.
For several hours yesterday friends joined the Garcia family outside Mary Ann’s passing out fliers and pleading with the community to rally together and help find Franco.
Posters with a picture of the smiling “loveable” BC senior were plastered all around the area.
“He was in that bar, someone has to have seen Franco,” said his father, Jose Garcia. “It’s very strange for us to be here right now. It’s not Franco’s will to be away from us.”
Social media
Friends have turned to Facebook and Twitter to get any information about the disappearance of Franco Garcia.
Twitter users have used the hashtag #FindFranco to garner support from the community, while on Facebook, more than 2,000 people have joined the group “Missing since 2/21-Franco Garcia.”
The search
State police, along with Newton police and Boston College authorities, have joined together to assist in the search for Franco.
According to state police spokesman David Procopio, a State Police helicopter conducted a scan over the Chestnut Hill Reservoir yesterday, but search results came up negative.
Follow Steve Annear on Twitter @steveannear
