The family of a Virginia father who went missing days before Christmas found a trail of blood leading from his abandoned car to a nearby woods, relatives said.
Jose Guerrero’s girlfriend said a «large amount of blood» was also found in the backseat of his abandoned Hyundai two days after he went missing on December 21 in Woodbridge, 23 miles south of Washington, DC.
First Sergeant Jonathan Perok of the Prince William County Police Department declined to comment on the findings, saying in an email that the agency would release «pertinent details as needed» to help where it needs to be. previously described as an investigation into the suspicious disappearance of Guerrero.
“Our message is and remains to ask that anyone with information come forward,” he said.
Guerrero’s girlfriend, Sheila Perez, said he didn’t say what he planned to do before leaving home, but said Guerrero told her he expected to be back in five to 10 minutes.
Perez, who has a 10-month-old son with Guerrero, said she reported him missing when he didn’t return. The family later found his car less than 2 miles from his home, Perez said.
“My son would never do anything or hurt anyone,” said Guerrero’s mother, Andrea Salgado. “There was no Christmas for us. There was no celebration. We were grieving for my son.»
Perez accused Prince William County police of not taking his missing person report seriously, accusing authorities of believing he ran away «or some other excuse,» he said.
«That’s not the problem here,» he said. «This is serious.»
In the email, Perok said that when the 20-year-old Guerrero was initially reported missing, there was no indication that he was in any danger. That changed Friday night after his car was found and «additional information was obtained,» Perok said.
«Since then, we have worked on this case non-stop over the weekend and currently,» he said. «We have conducted numerous searches and have followed several leads that have not revealed his location. What we need at this time is information and cooperation that we have not fully obtained from those connected to Jose.»
Guerrero’s loved ones are also searching the area where his car was found.
«I shouldn’t be here looking for it,» Perez said as he searched the woods. «We should be home.»