Graciela Garcia has been missing since November 2019. The 49-year-old woman was last seen in Hermiston, Oregon. On the evening of November 8th, 2019, Graciela had dinner plans with her 14-year-old son, who was staying at his father's home. Graciela's son was surprised when his stepfather - Graciela's husband - showed up with food instead. Graciela's husband explained that she had already gone to bed. Graciela was never seen or heard from again.
It is uncharacteristic of Graciela to be out of touch for this long. She is described as a loving mother who would not abandon her children. By 2019, both of Graciela's daughters were grown and living on their own, but Graciela still spoke to them daily. She was splitting custody of her son with her ex-husband, but also still spoke with her son regularly while he was with his father.
Prior to her disappearance, Graciela was a well-known hairstylist who was very close with her clients. It was also unlike her to just walk away from her business without any warning. Due to all these circumstances, it became immediately clear to friends and family that something was wrong when Graciela fell out-of-touch.
On November 9th, 2019, Graciela's husband told one of her daughters that Graciela was not home, and he did not know where she was. After two more days passed without any sign of her, Graciela's other daughter filed a missing person's report on November 11th, 2019.
Once detectives began investigating, it was discovered that Graciela's passport, personal identification, and cell phone disappeared with her. However, her phone was turned off. It was later determined that the phone pinged one final time off of a tower near Washington Bridge before it was shut off.
Investigators have described Graciela's disappearance as suspicious. Around four months after she vanished, Hermiston Police told Dateline that they had "no confirmed details available about exactly where or when [Graciela] was last seen." Graciela's husband has inevitably been questioned, and many found it suspicious that he did not report Graciela missing to police.
However, he has reportedly cooperated with the investigation. This is noted on a Facebook post from the Hermiston Police that was published in July 2020. The post reads, "[Graciela's husband] has consented to a search of his home and other property under his control, been interviewed on more than one occasion, provided DNA samples, etc. He was under no legal obligation to do any of those things, and his cooperation was not compelled in any manner."
It is unclear if anything was seized during the searches of the home or property. Graciela remains missing without a trace. Her children are desperately searching for answers. If you have any information that could help locate Graciela, please call Hermiston's anonymous tip line at 541-667-5148.
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