Posted Mar 2, 2012, 10:52 am
?The family of a teen missing since Sunday announced they will hold several search parties around Tucson on Saturday to look for the developmentally disabled 19-year-old.
Eli Solomon Rabago, of Phoenix, was last seen at his grandparents' home near Skyline and Sunrise drives around 7 a.m. Sunday. Eli has the intellectual ability of an 11-year-old, his family said.
There have been sightings of Eli near First Avenue and Fort Lowell, where family, friends and volunteers have been searching since receiving the first tip Monday. Eli was reportedly seen at the Food City in the area.
On Thursday, someone reported seeing a man fitting Eli's description at the Walmart and a Subway sandwich shop at Ina and Thornydale roads. According to tip, the man had a frozen dinner that he'd taken into Subway and asked staff to heat it for him, the family wrote on their Facebook support page.
Ruben Rabago, Eli's father, said it's possible that his son had a small amount of cash with him to be able to buy food, but said the teen had misplaced his wallet last week.
He said the family believes the reported sighting is "positive."
The family set up the page on Facebook where supporters can obtain information about sightings, what areas to search, download a flyer to distribute, and offer words of encouragement.
As of Friday morning, the page had 731 supporters, whom the family calls the "Pink Shoelace Crew" after the pink shoelaces Eli wears in his tennis shoes in honor of an aunt how died from breast cancer, his family said.
Pima County Sheriff's deputies and detectives are looking into the sightings, said PCSD spokeswoman Deputy Dawn Barkman.
"We're still investigating as we get them. The family is very involved and we are involved as we get the sightings," Barkman said.
Ruben Rabago said the response from the Tucson community has been "overwhelming."
"Even one stranger asking, 'how can I help,' makes you want to break down and cry," he said.
People from around Tucson have been combing the areas of reported sightings and posting fliers at malls, parks and businesses.
The family has organized four search parties beginning Saturday morning. The Pink Shoelace Crew will begin at 9 a.m. at Alvernon Road and Skyline at 10 a.m. volunteers will search Rillito Park, a search party will comb Navajo Park at 11, and at noon, the crew will be searching areas of Northwest Tucson (Barnes & Noble parking lot at Foothills Mall), according to the Facebook page.
The nights without their son are very difficult, Ruben Rabago said Wednesday.
"The nights are the hardest. You don't sleep ? you worry constantly. You can't wait for the morning to come so you can start (looking) again," he said.
While Eli has the intellectual ability of an 11-year-old he can become easily frightened, Ruben Rabago said.
"He's a sweet spirit and definitely scared," he said.
Eli is afraid of the desert and desert animals, so Ruben Rabago believes his son would stay within the city.
He also can be frightened by strangers and his father asks that if anyone sees him to report it to call 911 right away and keep an eye on him, but to avoid approaching him or he may flee.
Ruben Rabago said Eli knows the family's phone number.
"I hope he'd approach someone to ask to use their phone," he said.
Eli Rabago is Hispanic, 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighs 145 pounds. He was last seen wearing blue sweat pants, a red shirt, a gray hoodie, and gray New Balance tennis shoes with pink shoelaces. He may be carrying a red bag with personal items and may be walking with a limp from a recently sprained ankle.
Anyone with information about him should call 911.
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