Friends and family search Cleveland Circle for BC student missing since Wednesday
A group of students and family members posted fliers in the Cleveland Circle area this afternoon in an effort to find Franco Garcia, a Boston College senior who has been missing since early Wednesday morning.
Garcia, 21, was last seen at about 12:15 a.m. Wednesday inside Mary Ann’s bar on Beacon Street in Cleveland Circle, which is close to BC, according to a statement released by Newton police Friday.
Since Wednesday morning, Franco has not attended class, gone to work, moved his vehicle, or made contact with family or friends, according to the flyer. Franco lives with his parents in West Newton.
About 25 to 30 people gathered this afternoon to disperse flyers around the BC campus and Cleveland Circle, said Katherine Corteselli, 21, a close friend of Franco’s.
“We’re doing everything we can to find him. He’s one of the greatest guys I know,’’ Corteselli said. “He has so much support and I’m very optimistic that he will return home safely.’’
Corteselli said the students designed the flyers to showcase Franco’s cheery smile. Garcia is a chemistry major, Corteselli said.
Corteselli was at Mary Ann’s with Garcia and other friends Tuesday night, she said, adding that Garcia was drinking, but not to excess.
“As far as alcohol goes, he’s a normal college student, but I don’t think it was anything more than usual,’’ Corteselli said.
Franco left the bar without telling friends, said Corteselli, 21.
Corteselli said she founded a Facebook page to inform the community of Garcia’s disappearance. As of this afternoon, more than 1,600 people were following the page.
Garcia’s mother, Luzmila Garcia, 50, said she believes he is still alive.
“This is completely out of the blue,’’ she said.
Family friend Genoveva Tavera, of Waltham, said Garcia has never gone off the map like this before.
“Franco is the type of boy who will call his mom every day, during breaks in between classes and before work,’’ Tavera said. “What is happening is totally out of his character.’’
Students are planning to set up an information center in front of Mary Ann’s tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Corteselli said.
“We’re hoping to spread more awareness to the community and local business owners,’’ Corteselli said.
Garcia was last seen wearing jeans and a long-sleeve white and blue striped shirt, according to the flyer from police. He wears glasses and has brown hair and eyes. Anyone with information is urged to call Newton police at 617-796-2100 or the detective division at 617-796-2104.
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