Family of missing Thermal man speak on his disappearance after search party
Athena Jreij
THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – The family of 45-year-old Raymond Torres is speaking out on their son’s disappearance, since he was first reported missing this week.
Torres, who is apart of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Tribe, was last seen on July 1, near the area of Martinez Road and Polk Street. Surveillance footage shows he was wearing a black tank top, light shorts and dark shoes.
California Highway Patrol issued a feather alert for Torres earlier this week.
His father, Raymond Torres, says he first noticed his son was missing when he never came by his house as expected. Upon checking on his son’s home, Torres says he found it ransacked.
“You could tell there was a physical confrontation there because of the chairs thrown around in the kitchen. The refrigerator, I don’t know if both doors were off, but I know one of them was off, and the curtains leading outside to the front sliding glass door, they were jerked down to me with some force,” he said.
Torres says his son usually keeps to himself, but no contact like this is alarming.
“Especially around this community, everybody knows everybody. They see him every other day at least once a week in here or up on Ave 66 or at the market that he’s usually at,” he said.
The family and tribe hosted a search party Friday morning. Tribal chairman Joseph Mirelez says they’re also working with Riverside County Sheriff’s, who’ve used drones and helicopters in the search.
“He’s a fixture of the community. So him not being around, it’s heavy on our hearts because we just don’t know where he’s at and we don’t know if he’s safe. Especially right now in the heat of summer,” Mirelez said.
While sightings have been reported, Torres says no firm leads in the case have been found. Until then, he says he’ll be holding onto his community and faith.
“This is where the healing begins to see how many people and how many loved ones are just coming out to support the family,” Torres said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Riverside County Sheriff’s Thermal station at 760-863-8990.
They can also contact the tribe’s emergency response manager, Angel Ortega at 760-442-2401 or the public safety and security director, Alberto Chavez at 951-348-8436.