Hundreds turn out to search for missing Provo woman


12 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

PROVO — Elizabeth "Elena" Laguna Salgado had only lived in Utah about a month, but the droves of people who turned out to search for her on Saturday didn't seem to care that they didn't know her.

"I figured it is a much more meaningful way to use my day," said Amy Scoville, of Provo, who set aside routine errands to spend a time searching. Scoville speaks Spanish and figures if she runs into Salgado, she could help.

Salgado, 26, was last seen leaving her English language learning school, Nomen Global Language Center at 384. W. Center Street in Provo, on Thursday, April 16. She hasn't been heard from since, according to police.

"It's been a nightmare. It is devastating," Elena's uncle, Rosemberg Salgado, told searchers on Saturday. "It is hard and difficult to keep going with our lives. We cannot eat. We cannot sleep. Our lives are not the same without Elena."

Rosemberg Salgado said he felt bolstered by the volunteer searchers, about 300 of whom showed up on Saturday to help look for his niece.

"If you're watching this, Elena, we love you very much and we're going to find you," he said. "We're not going to stop, not even one second of our lives until we find you. We know you are alive and that our Heavenly Father will point us in the right direction so you can be back with our family again."

Searchers were assigned various locations along the route the woman typically walked home from school, in the neighborhoods surrounding the Mexican restaurant where she worked and the apartment building where she lived, as well as several miles along the Provo River Parkway at the mouth of Provo Canyon.

Community Emergency Response Team member Jay Falco led about 40 people up the trail.

"Don't touch anything, but let us know if you find something suspicious," he said. "We're looking for her, but also the clothing she was last seen wearing: a denim jacket, possibly red shirt, blue jeans and knee-high boots."

Falco said the search response was bigger than he expected and very welcome.


It's sad and scary that someone in our community is missing. If it was one of our own, we'd want the support.

–Melinda Case, searcher


"It's good that a lot of people really want to help," he said.

As Amanda Collier, of Provo, presented the missing persons flier with Salgado's photo to passers by on the canyon trail, she got choked up while talking.

"I take it personally. I'm from Provo. I grew up here. It's our community," she said. "It is Provo and we feel safe here, but people need to be more aware of what's going on around you."

Collier's mother, Melinda Case, also of Provo, said she is always going to be looking for Salgado, everywhere she goes, until the woman is found.

"We're sickened by this whole thing," she said. "It's sad and scary that someone in our community is missing. If it was one of our own, we'd want the support."

Case said searches should have been organized even earlier than Saturday, nine days after Elena Salgado went missing. She hadn't even heard about it until Friday when Collier invited her to the search on Saturday.

"We want to help this family have some peace of mind," she said.


This is a person who is very loving and in contact with her family all the time. ... She's totally off the communication grid, so it's very unusual. We are very concerned.

–Chief John King, Provo PD


The Salgados, most of whom are in Mexico, are helping officers assisting with the investigation to stay positive and motivated to find Elena, said Provo Police Chief John King.

"With a case like this, especially as a police officer, you have to think, 'Today is the day,'" he said.

King called the situation "suspicious." Anyone with information is asked to call Provo police at 801-852-6210.

"This is a person who is very loving and in contact with her family all the time. She's a responsible student and responsible worker," he said. "She's totally off the communication grid, so it's very unusual. We are very concerned."

"It's horrifying, especially as a mother, to think that something like this could happen to one of my children," Scoville said.

"I really feel for folks who are in this kind of a spot," said Matt Wright, of Provo. He joined Saturday's search effort at the suggestion of his wife and was glad he did.

"It was neat to see the city of Provo pulling together for people they don't even know," Wright said. He and his son were also assigned along the Provo River trail.

Related:

"We didn't find what we were looking for, but had a good feeling for helping," he said, adding that the motivation for many searchers is to "give the family some closure."

Scott Armstrong, also of Provo, said he volunteered to search so he could put his criminal justice education to work. He looked through unoccupied homes and lots and asked businesses about surveillance footage.

"We're doing all we can and sometimes that's all we can do," he said. The assistance, Armstrong said, is meant to help quell the family's anxiety.

Rudemberth Salgado said his niece has a college degree and is a recently returned missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He said she is "always looking for opportunities to get people close to the church."

"I know that right now she is praying that we will find her," he said. "The Lord will guide us in the right direction so we can find Elizabeth." Email: wleonard@deseretnews.com Twitter: wendyleonards

Photos

Related stories

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

Utah
Wendy Leonard

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast