Found Deceased El Salvador - Jose Tomas Lainez, 54, on vacation from Southern California, missing from family hike, San Vicente, 24 Mar 2024

[Unalienable Rights]

SoCal resident missing for 3 weeks after disappearing on hike in El Salvador

It's been three weeks since a Southern California resident went missing while on a visit to El Salvador, and his family is desperate to find him.

abc7.com

It's been three weeks since a Southern California resident went missing while on a visit to El Salvador, and his family is desperate to find him.

José Tomás Lainez disappeared while on a hike with family in the area of San Vicente, said his wife and son.

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It was humid and over 100 degrees as the group hiked, got lost, and eventually made it to the river they were looking for, she said.

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Loved ones said the 54-year-old was hot and decided to head back to the car after they reached the river, but he disappeared.

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The Lainez family said he is an experienced hiker and is familiar with the region. They now fear he may have been kidnapped. They asked Eyewitness News not to share their names in fear they could be targeted.

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Police in San Vicente confirmed to Eyewitness News they are still searching for Lainez. His family said the FBI is also assisting.

We reached out to the agency, although it typically does not confirm nor deny possible investigations. Eyewitness News also reached out to the State Department and has not heard back yet.

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[jade32]

I am wondering if there are any searches going on? And why do they think of kidnapping? Then there must been something more going on in my opinion. I don't think 54 year old men get kidnapped just like that. But that's my opinion ofcourse. There is not much information to go on. Hope he will be found and more important that he is okay.

 

[GraceG]

I am wondering if there are any searches going on? And why do they think of kidnapping? Then there must been something more going on in my opinion. I don't think 54 year old men get kidnapped just like that. But that's my opinion ofcourse. There is not much information to go on. Hope he will be found and more important that he is okay.

Kidnapping is a risk throughout much of Central America, and not just for the young. My husband's company ceased sending their engineering/tech managers to their manufacturing plants there about 6 years ago, it was just too risky. Travel advice and advisories for El Salvador

 

[jade32]

Kidnapping is a risk throughout much of Central America, and not just for the young. My husband's company ceased sending their engineering/tech managers to their manufacturing plants there about 6 years ago, it was just too risky. Travel advice and advisories for El Salvador

Oh really? I am not from the US, so i disnt know.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

This long USA Today article is an interview with his sister. She was part of the group who were hiking together the day he went missing.

California man goes missing after hiking in El Salvador, family pleads for help finding him

José Tomás Lainez, 54, was hiking in El Salvador on March 24 in the San Vicente area when he went missing. His family is desperate to bring him home.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Rikissa]

According to this article the remains of Jose Tomas Lainez was found on 9 May 2024, 400 meters from the car the family had travelled in. He was buried on 15 June.
Article translated into English:

Ciudadano estadounidense-salvadoreño desaparecido en San Vicente fue encontrado sin vida; su familia lo enterró el 15 de junio - La Prensa Gráfica

La familia enterró los restos de José Tomás Laínez el pasado 15 de junio en un cementerio de San Vicente y confirmaron que las osamentas encontradas el 9 de mayo sí eran de él. Autoridades no informaron la causa de su muerte.

www-laprensagrafica-com.translate.goog