Marizela Perez: Missing one month
On March 5, 2011, one month ago, my 18-year-old cousin Marizela (“Emem” to her family, “Mei” to her friends) vanished after walking out of a Safeway grocery store in Seattle’s University District.
This is one of the many ClearChannel Outdoor billboards across the West Coast that’s featuring Marizela and our family tip line for information about her disappearance:
This is the awareness-raising bracelet Marizela’s friends are selling to help the family:
One month later, we have on our own searched adjacent parks, streets, and neighborhoods for any signs or clues. We hired a private investigator. We put up a website. We are raising money and reaching out to private professional K-9 search/rescue/recovery teams for assistance.
One month later, it is difficult to get calls returned from the Seattle Police Department.
One month later, it is difficult to get local and national media to follow-up on her story.
One month later, there isn’t a morning or night that we haven’t thought about her, cried for her, ached for her return.
One month later, there isn’t a morning or night that we haven’t prayed for her and her parents.
And one month later, there isn’t a spare moment I haven’t been on the phone working her case, doing research, begging for help, calling up old friends, e-mailing strangers for advice, pulling any strings I can find, and lobbying law enforcement to do more.
Families across the country who have been through similar plights know the frustrations of dealing with intransigent bureaucracies, chronic apathy, and government agencies with limited resources and politically-driven agendas.
They know what it’s like to be told that your family’s case is just “one of dozens, 30, 40, 50, 100.”
They know what it’s like to feel helpless, angry, numb, scared, and overwhelmed by the battle to keep a loved one’s case from sinking to the bottom of some pile of paperwork and red tape.
And now, we know, too.
Marizela could be my daughter or your daughter. Young adults who go missing often don’t get the priority treatment that underage children get. When they turn 18, law enforcement’s attitude changes. The lack of coordination is flabbergasting.
But your children are always and forever your children.
And I know all parents out there reading this would fight with every cell of their bodies to get their children back — no matter whose bureaucratic toes are stepped on, no matter whose feathers might be ruffled. No matter what.
We have faith, friends, and family.
We will continue to lean on your prayers. We will need more volunteers in the Seattle area to keep spreading the word, keep Marizela in the public’s mind, and keep open eyes, ears, and boots on the ground.
I will keep you updated until we find her.
Emem, you are so loved. More than you know. By more than you’ll know.
A reader sent some eternal words of wisdom — for all of us:
“When you get to the end of your rope, reach out and grab the hem of His garment.”
Keeping the faith…
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What a beautiful young lady!
MM: My family and I have been praying for you and your family. Keep on keeping on.
My heart aches for her parents and for you, Michelle. I would go insane if one of my children went missing. There’s not a whole lot I can do from here, but rest assured that Marizela, her parents and you are in my prayers daily.
My kids are 18, 19 and 24, I can’t imagine going through what you and your family are going through.
My heart is crying.
Stay strong and keep the faith Michelle.
Ol’ Trav is sending up prayers for you, your cousin and your family.
While I`m on the opposite coast, also in NC, I`m sending prayers and encouragement.
Still praying, still faithful, still hopeful, still confident !
You know, throughout this I’ve been wondering, where the hell is Greta Van Susteren? She of the nonstop Natalee Holloway coverage, you know – why is she not all over this??? It’s not like she wouldn’t know Michelle Malkin, ffs!
Still hoping for the best.
Thank you for this recap. We already knew you must be spending every spare minute on the case, but it’s good to have a summary/reminder post.
God will glorify His name through this, Michelle. May His timing be right now, and not later. We need her to be returned to her family, Lord. Please get rid of whatever is keeping her.
Thanks for the update. Been praying every day. Will continue to do so. Wish I had something else I could to do help.
Have you thought about looking for contacts in other parts of the state or country with large Filipino populations? Are there civic groups in places like Virginia Beach, LA, SF and other locations?
The more eyes looking the better the chance that something gets seen.
Praying for Marizela.
Have you tried posting notes on yehey.com? Maybe your cousin has been in touch with somebody in the Philippines? Maybe somebody there knows somebody here? It is worth a shot.
It’s so sad that this has progressed to the point that the Police department has moved it to the back burner.
Don’t give up, Ms. Malkin.
Michelle, I can’t even begin to imagine how you and your family are feeling right now. I just want you to know that there are a lot of people across the USA who are in your corner, and we keep praying for the best.
After so much time I fear this is going to end badly, insofar as it ends at all. But I pray to God Almighty to spare your family that pain and bring her home safely. Your every update on the subject is heartrending. May God bless and keep you and your family and give her back to all of you.
Know that she, (and you, and your family)is in my prayers. I trust that God will return her to you safely.
Marizela and all of you are in my prayers every day Michelle. I pray that she is returned safe and sound and soon to her family, and that God will comfort all of you until then.
And I stand ready to help however I can.
We in Florida also ache and pray. I’m reminded of a song:
Lean on me
When you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
Till I’m gonna need
Somebody
To lean on
And one even more powerful:
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me…
We love you, Michelle. You have a minimum of 100% support from us.
My heart breaks for you and your family Michelle. Thoughts and prayers to everyone involved in the search. May God Bless You all.
Marizela, whatever demons keep you at bay, cry out so that your family, your freinds, may heed your call to come and fight by your side. Praying for your safe return.
And you can continue to count on our prayers for Marizela’s safe return.
Amen!
Very true.
I hope you find this helpful, too:
Michelle, your cousin is SO BEAUTIFUL!!
Keeping the faith…
Indeed- our prayers are with you and family.
I continue to pray for Marizela every time I log in and see her picture, in addition to adding her to my morning and evening prayers. I have faith that she will come home safely.
I have been and will continue talk to God daily for Marizela’s safe return, for comfort to the family members, and for you Michelle.
L
Michelle, your story is so heart breaking. I can’t imagine the agony it’s been over the past month. Please keep faith that she will return.
I remember the night Shawn Hornbeck was found in Missouri, four years after he went missing. Never give up hope. I pray for your family and for the safe return of Marizela.
I am praying for Marizela, you, and your family. I imagine it feels like you are having a panic attack 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
I stand shoulder to shoulder with those in your vast army of supporters.
Miss Marizela remains in our daily prayers. While we can understand that He intends very special purposes for her and her aunt both, it does not banish the hourly ache. Even so, with a stout heart, affirm, as at our church: “until the day!”
This is so horrible. I really hope you and your family find her soon. God Bless all of you!
This was from inception, our greatest concern. And what does that say about our ‘system’ when an investigative reporter ( that seems perfectly capable of getting to the bottom of everything else ) can’t find traction? What chance would the rest of us stand?
Are there any of her preferences that might be able to be shared without jeopardizing an ongoing investigation? Places or events Marizela might frequent? The beach, shopping malls, concerts ( fave bands/venues ) the typical teen hangouts. Are there hobbies or activities where you might want us to be particularly alert?
Prayers as always.
i feel very sorry about this situation. if somebody did something to marizela in an attempt to intimidate or silence your political views or speaking then i think this is a very particular case and should be rigorously investigated by the highest federal law enforcement agencies.
Stay strong Michelle, I know your family need your strength. I keep checking in hopes of good news. It must be so frustrating that there seems to be so little help from the authorities just because Marizela is 18, at what point should it be decided that there is a need for the police to actively investigate her disappearance. I would think that a month without knowledge of her whereabouts should be the catalyst that triggers police involvement, regardless of her age.
Absolutely.
As my mother and aunt in their mid 60s were still my grandmother’s (early 90s) children.
Still praying, Michelle.
This morning, for some reason, I had a special thought for her.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 17Pray without ceasing.
18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Continuing to pray for her.
Michelle, I will continue to pray for your cousin. God is in control, and I know that He will guide you and your family through this stressful situation.
I read this with great sadness. My prayers are always with you.
Have you contacted John Walsh or Nancy Grace?
They have a large following and may be able to get the word out. I hope and pray you find her.
God bless you and your family Michelle.
Still praying for Marizella’s safe return all the way across the world in Riyadh.
Lord, Lord, Lord! Please, Please, Please hear our prayer for this child. Lord, do not let the enemy have victory for even a moment. Lord, Please give her back to her family so everyone will praise your Name when they see this miracle. Lord, someone knows something and I pray they are exposed today. Lord, do not let this tragedy go on even one more day. Lord, please carry this family as they endure the unendurable and give them strength when it feels to them they cannot go on.
Finally Lord, there are other just like Marizela. There are other families without answers and without the ability of a famous relative to keep up a worldwide vigil. Lord hear our prayer for them and do not let evil triumph on this day. Lord, we beg you to smash the enemy’s plans and expose all of this to the light.
Lord we give you all the glory, honor, and praise as your Holy Name infinitely deserves.
Amen
Continuing to pray for Marizela, and you, and your family. I know things look bleak as each day passes, but don’t lose hope. May God bless you all and make His presence known as you endure this difficult time.
As with others, I lift up my prayers for Marizela, you and the rest of her family.
I can’t imagine the frustration of dealing with hardened investigators who simply see it as another day at work and another missing person. Yet, for them, unfortunately it is. How we change this? I don’t know.
The longer this goes on, the more worrying it becomes. My fingers are still crossed.
John Walsh, father of kidnap/murder victim Adam Walsh, said that he was flabbergasted when he found the government putting more coordination of resources into finding stolen vehicles than finding kidnap victims. I guess little has changed in almost 30 years.
Yesterday, driving in Salem, Oregon, I saw one of those new-style electronic billbeards with Marizela’s information on it.
At first, I was happy to see that the word is spreading on the street away from Seattle. But almost as immediately the thought occurred that after one month, she really could be anywhere by now. And that makes searching a daunting prospect indeed.
At the one-month mark, with evidently no eyewitnesses, no communications, and not even any hearsay to go on, what I’m afraid of is that this is headed towards “cold case” territory.
Speaking selfishly, what’s upsetting about the situation is that it’s been painful to see Michelle on her FNC appearances over the past month. She puts on a brave exterior, but you can tell just by looking at her the physical and emotional punishment she’s endured. That it goes on with no clear end in sight is hard to deal with in the sense that all the comfort I can offer is words in ether. Not much.
Commenting on any topic other than Marizela’s makes me feel disrespectful.
It’s sad enough that when she’s interviewed Michelle is usually given subjects to talk about that don’t lend themselves to evoking her warmer side; now there’s this added burden on her shoulders, and she still has to soldier through it. Knowing this is like knowing that the sun is there in the sky, bright and warm, but obscured by clouds — you know it’s there, but you can’t see or feel it, and you don’t know when or if it will ever return.
And you wish there was something, anything you could do to change the weather, but know that you can’t.
One always hopes for the best, but at this point I’d just about be in favor of any ending at all. Even having to go through a grieving process is better than psychological torture without end.
Still praying. Still hoping.
Sad but true.
Michelle, if can share, did anyone ever give you records of the cell towers her phone hit? I would love to see that data if possible to get a feel for where she might have been headed.
She only looks for little white kids. Sorry. But I mean it.
When I saw the Lead Story Line when I logged on to your site, Michelle, I was hoping for good news. I am so sorry to learn that Marizela is still missing. I am continuing to hope and pray, and have asked others to do so as well.
My heart is breaking for you and your family, Michelle! Still hoping, still praying. Please God, wrap your arms around this family and give them peace.
*comfort*
Like poster #6, I have been wondering why Greta S. if not Fox in general is not doing more to help you. We are all still praying for her safe return but in the meantime we are praying that law enforcement will take you all more seriously and really get in there to help find your cousin. Praying for God’s comfort for your family until Marizela is home once more.
I wish there was more we could do, Michelle, but I will hug AJ a little extra and we’ll all pray for Marizela.
I continue to keep Emem, you and all your family in my prayers. That saying about reaching for the hem of His garment brought a tear to my eye.
Beautiful. I plan to use it.
Excellent question indeed. I guess the moral of the story is that if you want to go missing, do it in some exotic place.
I wish we could do more, Michelle, but I’ll give AJ an extra hug and we’ll say a prayer.
Ooops – I guess my earlier post did go through! Well, I’ll just hug AJ extra TWICE tonight.
Michelle,
Did you ever get in touch with “Washington’s Most Wanted”? It’s the local show that runs on KCPQ13 on Saturday nights and it’s modeled after the John Walsh national show.
I think they have a pretty good following and it might get Marizela’s face back into the public eye.
If it would help to have local viewers call in to request they look into her disappearance, just say the word and we’ll do it.
I want to be tactful but realize I may fail. I know you and all of Marizela’s loved ones are in an agony of distress, worry, and suspense.
It’s just that I think It may be time to begin revealing more of what was going on in Marizela’s life.
One reason is cynical – to boost media interest. The larger reason is that getting into Marizela’s head, now that leads gained privately are in short supply, is more likely to help people find her – and bring her home.
Has she run before? Why was she depressed? Did she have stresses at school or in relationships that you have discovered? Where did she go when she was unhappy? Did she have any stalkers?
Was she distracted on the day of her disappearance, which could have made her more vulnerable to foul play?
Is there video from the rail station, or is there not, or won’t they give it to you?
I apologize for pushing for private details. I just think now it is necessary.
I Th. 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Emem and all of her loved ones are continuously in my thoughts and prayers.
Prayer Changes Things! jb
The police are obviously, sans evidence to the contrary, treating her disappearance as that of a young adult free to go where she pleases.
DId she have someplace to run, people who would take her in? What on earth would be her motivation?
Have you identified the “loiterer” in the store video?
He was standing outside the store as Marizela came out and walked away – find him and he might have seen which way she went. Or other video (unreleased) might show if he went in the same direction at some point.
We are all with you in Spirit Michelle. My heart aches but Prayers work.
Keep the Faith, trust in God.
It’s the not knowing that is hard. Forever wondering……
Keep the faith. Prayers for you and family.
I had a dream last night that I couldn’t find my loved one – but it was only a dream.
I was going crazy searching for her and was crying in dismay. Again, I was only dreaming. I can’t imagine going through it in real life. I feel so bad for Michelle and her relatives.
I am trying to think about what I can do to help but there isn’t much I can do. I still think there is a good chance that Em will be reunited with Michelle and her family in the future.
I still am disgusted at Fox for not doing more to help find Michelle’s cousin – talk about a lack of judgement and decency on their part – Michelle was part of your their team for a long time and contributed greatly to the channel’s success.
Em, if you reading Michelle’s blog, please contact your family. Whatever you think is wrong in your life isn’t nearly as bad as you perceive it to be. Your family can help you and many other unrelated individuals like myself would be willing to help you in any way we could as well.
Some suggestions that may no tbe original but worth repeating. First, try to find out when her cell phone was used for the last time and where it was used. Second, try to find out when any withdrawals were made from any credit cards or bank cards and when and where. Then make sure the credit card companies and banks tell you any movement in these accounts. Then check any emails or social network sites she had and see when and where the social networks were used for the last time. Then make sure the social networks alert you to any movement. And also notify any area hospitals and give them photos just in case Marizela turns up in an ER somewhere. It does happen from time to time and the hospitals need to have readily available photos, and other information. Not sure if this will help but it should be done.
I agree. If Michelle could put all the info she knows up on this site, it would help everyone that wants to play a part in finding her.
For instance, if Michelle gave details as to her bank account activities – i.e. on a specific date she withdrew a specific amount of money at a specific time at a specific location, anyone who was in the vincinity during that time or knows anyone else who resides in that area could start passing the information and asking questions about Emem etc.
I can’t even imagine the pain, the worry. I thought the most difficult part of having children was when they were young and obviously more vulnerable, but it never ends. Never never never. Fingers crossed. Much love to all your family.
Michelle; God bless you. Your pain jumps right off the screen into my heart. You are so right that the age of a person doesn’t matter. They are always somebody’s baby boy or baby girl forever. My “kids” are 23 and 25 and if any of them went missing, my life would literally stop until I found them, however long that took. I want so much for this to end well for you and your family and I am praying for that.
I was wondering if there had been a bad breakup with someone who had the attitude, “If I can’t have her no one can.” Or, someone that she may have been if not afraid of, apprehensive of. Someone who “gave her the creeps.” Am praying that she is hunkered down somewhere, so depressed that she cannot function, just waiting to be found. It sounds awful but it is so preferable to other alternatives.
Am in prayer for all of you and am praying that Marizela is found safe and sound. God speed Michelle.
Michelle – Keep the faith on this. Our 15-year-old adopted daughter ran away and at the “30 day” point we too were devastated by the lackadaisical attitude of the police.. who considered this pretty normal for “troubled” kids. After 4 months, our goofy kid turned herself in one week after showing up on her birth mom’s front porch in another state… cold, hungry and dirty. I’m praying that Marizela is also on some sort of “journey” and will soon see the light. But you’ve done a wonderful job of proactively seeking her return to family… and God is in control.
Wow, I was so sure she would turn up a day or two after I first read about Marizela. I am shocked she is still missing. Part of me wants to take a leave from my job, fly to Seattle and comb the streets. I was born and raised in Seattle and I used to be street tough. I drove and dispatched and know the streets like the back of my hand. I was raised in the area she disappeared. I want to help and I feel helpless.
I will continue to pray.
Don’t give up. Someone out there must have seen something or will see her at some point. Prayers for you and your family, and for her, so that you all continue to have the strength that you need.