VANCOUVER 鈥� The family of a Coquitlam man who went missing in Mexico is desperately seeking information about what they now believe is a kidnapping.
Diego Hernandez, 22, was last seen May 8 in Puerto Vallarta, where he鈥檇 been working as a martial arts instructor. He grew up in Coquitlam, but joined his mother around two years ago in the Mexican resort town where she operates an orphanage for girls.
In an interview with the 91原创 Sun, Hernandez鈥檚 aunt said the family believes Hernandez and his business partner, Craig Silva, 31, were kidnapped. They waited nearly two weeks to speak publicly about the disappearance, fearing doing so would jeopardize his chances of surviving.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 care who took him, we don鈥檛 want to press charges. We just want him to come home,鈥� an emotional Amanda Morales pleaded on Sunday.
鈥淭hese things aren鈥檛 that uncommon there. You sit tight and wait for the ransom call,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou go to the police, but you don鈥檛 go to the media.鈥�
The ransom call came days after the disappearance, on May 13, Morales said. Hernandez鈥檚 ex-girlfriend, who is Mexican, was told over the phone by someone claiming to be with Hernandez there had been a mistaken identity and that he would be returned to his family within days. But the day never came.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e still not giving him back, but we still don鈥檛 know why,鈥� Morales said.
Hernandez had put on a mixed martial arts sporting event in the city on May 5, and was working with new business partner and former martial arts student Silva to pay off some of the expenses. Silva is originally from Phoenix, Ariz., and the family is not sure exactly why or how he became involved, Morales said.
They do know Hernandez had been approached prior to the MMA event by two men who wanted 鈥渁 piece of the action鈥� and a cut of the proceeds, and Hernandez turned them down.
鈥淚t did scare them, but it鈥檚 just so common down there,鈥� Morales said.
According to Morales, Hernandez and Silva were about to withdraw thousands in cash to pay some of the event bills right before they went missing. Silva鈥檚 debit card has since been used near Guadalajara and there is surveillance footage of Hernandez flanked by two men at a Puerto Vallarta ATM, which Morales said could be a good sign that her nephew is still alive. There has been no sign or mention of Silva, she said.
Silvestre Chavez Garcia, Puerto Vallarta鈥檚 director of public safety, told Mexican media that police were not informed until five days after Hernandez and Silva disappeared.
But Morales said Hernandez was reported missing within 24 hours of his disappearance, and that two separate eyewitnesses saw the men being pulled from a vehicle and forced into a municipal police car. Silva鈥檚 black 2003 Chevy Trailblazer has been found by authorities in San Vincente, about 20 kilometres north of Puerto Vallarta, she said.
Her family doesn鈥檛 know whom to trust, or how Hernandez drew the attention of kidnappers. He had been charged with selling drugs as a teenager, but went to Mexico to start fresh and was living a healthy, clean life, Morales said.
Hernandez鈥檚 father, sister and brother have all flown to Mexico to help with the search and a Facebook page has been set up to share information and prayers.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade confirmed 91原创 consular officials in Mexico were in contact with local authorities and providing assistance to the family of a 91原创 who had gone missing there.
Anyone with information is asked to phone the American or 91原创 consulates in Puerto Vallarta.
