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Police Search For Missing Virginia Dad After Family Finds ‘Big Amount Of Blood’ In Abandoned Car
Jose Guerrero vanished under suspicious circumstances from Woodbridge, Virginia on Dec. 21. His abandoned car, reportedly with blood in the backseat, was found less than two miles from his home.
Authorities are desperately trying to locate a missing Virginia father whose car was mysteriously found near a wooded area days before Christmas.
Jose Guerrero, 20, vanished from his home in Woodbridge, Virginia — roughly 23 miles south of Washington, D.C. — around 8:00 p.m. on Dec. 21, according to a press release from the Prince William County Police Department. Family hasn’t had contact with him since.
Guerrero’s girlfriend, Sheila Perez, told NBC News that he didn’t disclose where he was headed when he left last week, thought she noted that he’d promised to return in five to 10 minutes.
His family located his Hyundai on Bel Air Road and Jeffries Road in Woodbridge — a mile and a half south of his home — on Dec. 23.
A “big amount of blood” was found in the backseat of the empty Hyundai, Perez told NBC News. The family also claimed that a trail of blood was found leading from his abandoned car to a wooded area.
First Sgt. Jonathan Perok of the Prince William County Police Department declined to provide any comment to Oxygen.com on any possible blood found inside Guerrero’s abandoned Hyundai.
"With regard to the vehicle and the state of the vehicle as it was found, we’re not releasing specific investigative details as releasing that information may jeopardize our ongoing investigation," he said.
He did, however, dispute reports of a possible blood trail.
“That was never verified by police,” Perok stated. “That to me, is not accurate.”
The gruesome discovery further stoked concerns for Guerrero’s wellbeing, whose disappearance police have deemed suspicious.
“Jose is believed to be missing under suspicious circumstances and may be in need of assistance which qualifies him as endangered,” the Prince William County Police Department said in a statement on Dec. 24.
Investigators said they haven’t ruled out foul play in the young Virginia dad’s disappearance.
“He remains missing and we’re still looking for him,” Perok told Oxygen.com on Thursday. “We’re not ruling anything out until he’s located or until we have additional information to determine otherwise.”
Perez, however accused police of dragging their heels in the case, claiming they dismissed Guerrero’s disappearance as a runaway situation.
“That’s not the issue here,” Perez said. “This is serious.”
Perok disputed the family's characterization of the investigation to NBC News, noting that there was no indication Guerrero was in danger when he was first reported missing.
"We have since worked this case nonstop through the weekend and currently," he told the network. "We’ve conducted numerous searches, and have followed up on multiple leads that have not yielded his location. What we need right now is information and cooperation, which we have not fully been getting from those connected to Jose."
In the days since Guerrero's car was located, his family said they’ve conducted an extensive search of the area where the vehicle was found.
"I shouldn't be here looking for him," Perez added. "We should be at home."
No other information was released by law enforcement, though local investigators are asking the public to contact detectives with any information related to Guerrero’s disappearance.
The missing 20-year-old’s family described him as a gentle young man.
“My son would never do anything or hurt anyone,” Guerrero’s mother, Andrea Salgado, said, per NBC News. “There was no Christmas for us. There was no celebration. We were grieving for my son.”
Guerrero is described as a Hispanic man with brown hair and brown eyes. His approximate height is five feet, eight inches and he weighs 109 pounds, officials said. The 20-year-old was last seen wearing a blue sweater, blue jeans and black shoes.
Anyone with additional information regarding Guerrero’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Prince William County Police Department by calling 703-792-6500.
