Dad of 5 goes missing after taking job in Oregon, family says. ‘Just want to hug him’
Ariadna Albarran sent her father to pick up milk at an Oregon market on Monday, Nov. 14.
When Jose Jesus Albarran Guerrero, 46, returned to his Medford home with the milk, intended to make hot chocolate for his grandkids, he was elated, Albarran said in a phone interview with McClatchy News on Nov. 18.
At the market, he met a man who offered him work doing landscaping, according to Albarran.
Albarran Guerrero quickly changed his clothes and walked downtown with a cup of hot chocolate in hand to meet the man at Sacred Heart Catholic Church just before noon, Albarran said.
“After that, nobody saw him,” Albarran said.
Albarran said she and her family filed a missing persons report with Medford police 48 hours later.
The Medford Police Department did not immediately return McClatchy News’ request for comment on Nov. 17. The department told News10 that “there is an active missing person report on Albarran Guerrero.” Nothing has been found out of the ordinary.
Phone call dropped
The day Albarran Guerrero went missing, Albarran said her mother got a call from him at about 5 p.m.
“‘Hey, where are you? Are you home?’” her mother said on the phone, according to Albarran.
“I’m near Riverside,” he responded before his voice became distorted, and the call dropped.
The family has not heard from him since and has searched the city every day since he didn’t come home, Albarran said.
However, as more time passes, the family grows more worried, Albarran said.
The family is especially concerned as Albarran Guerrero suffered a head injury about six months ago while working, Albarran said. As a result, he sometimes has memory lapses.
“I feel almost defeated, but I’m not giving up,” the mother of three said. “I really just want to find answers.”
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Grandfather of nine
Albarran said her father, a grandfather of nine, is the kind of man who would do anything and everything for his family.
“He’s kind of like the holder of all of us. He’s just the rock,” Albarran said.
All of his grandkids, who are accustomed to seeing him every day, are asking about him, Albarran said.
“They’re all going crazy,” Albarran said. “‘Where’s grandpa?’ ‘Where’s grandpa?’ ‘When is he coming back?’”
Albarran’s mother is taking his disappearance the hardest, according to Albarran.
“She’s not eating. She’s not sleeping,” Albarran said. “I’ve never seen my mom this broken.”
Albarran said the two have been married for more than 30 years.
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The family plans to continue searching daily for Albarran Guerrero, Albarran said.
“I just want to hug him,” Albarran said.
Albarran Guerrero is 5 feet 5 inches and weighs about 175 pounds, Albarran said. He has hazel/brown eyes and was last seen wearing a green Oregon Ducks sweater, gray hat, blue jeans and brown work boots.
This story was originally published November 18, 2022 at 4:32 PM with the headline "Dad of 5 goes missing after taking job in Oregon, family says. ‘Just want to hug him’."
