The last time Tamara Guerra saw her brother Pablo, it was Mother’s Day.
The 17 year-old gave his mom a necklace for the occasion. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Tamara said her brother was a bit nervous about finishing high school and going through “some things” with his friends, but he wasn’t upset.
The next day, Pablo vanished. The only trace of the Burnaby teen was his coat found under the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge on the day he disappeared.
That was May 10, 2004. More than a decade later, the Guerra family hasn’t given up faith Pablo is still alive, but they’re hoping all these years later someone has some information that can help find him.
“It’s just been so hard for us for 12 years, all these different ideas that could have happened (to him), but nothing concrete,” Tamara told the NOW.
The family has been told on numerous occasions Pablo’s disappearance was a drowning or suicide, but since his body never surfaced, his sister isn’t convinced. She doesn’t believe her brother would take his own life.
Tamara described her brother as a typical teen; he excelled at soccer, had a lot of friends and was close to his mother and sister.
But she also pointed out her brother did get into trouble from time to time, and she thinks Pablo may have gotten overwhelmed by something and wanted to get away.
Tamara is also hoping his vast group of friends at the time, who are now older, may be willing to share information.
“It’s not about getting anyone in trouble, it’s just helping us to find some closure, whether it’s good or bad,” she said.
Burnaby Mounties are also hoping someone will come forward with information about Pablo’s disappearance.
Burnaby RCMP Staff Sgt. Maj. John Buis said investigators believe Pablo, who would now be approaching the age of 30, is still alive.
“We need to think that, we have to think that, until we’re shown, or it’s demonstrated otherwise,” he said.
An extensive search was conducted after he disappeared, but other than the jacket and school identification, he never turned up.
The years that have followed have been difficult for the Guerra family. Tamara now has kids of her own and understands the pain her mother his going through.
“He’s never been forgotten in my family, we still talk about him,” she said.
At the time he went missing, Pablo was described as approximately five feet eight-inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, with short black hair, and green eyes.
Anyone with more information is asked to call the Burnaby RCMP missing person unit at 604-294-7922.
