After all, his family said the 36-year-old from Hamilton, Ohio, has everything going for him. He earned a master's degree from Miami University, is currently working as a project coordinator at Champlin Architecture in Cincinnati and recently asked his girlfriend to marry him.
"He stated to my mother, to my mom and dad, 'I think I'm ready to get married,'" said Brandie Gutierrez, Jose Gutierrez's sister.
The love of his life, Daniela Pichardo, said yes.
Pichardo lives in Guadalajara, Mexico, and the two have been dating long-distance.
On Dec. 22, Jose Gutierrez flew down there to be with her for Christmas.
"I just know that they were there having dinner, enjoying their time together," Brandie Gutierrez said.
Thanks to social media posts, family members knew the couple had been dining at a restaurant in Zacatecas, a state in North Central Mexico that is about 30 minutes from Pichardo's home.
Daniela Pichardo's sister, Viviana Pichardo, and cousin, Irma Montoya, were also with them.
The restaurant, Solana Resto Bar, told WLWT managers looked at footage from their security cameras, and they could tell the group spent about two hours before leaving at 6:08 p.m.
Brandie Gutierrez said a few hours later, Daniela Pichardo's mother received an odd text from her daughter. It was her location.
"The mother did state, and her specific words were, 'I know something was not right. She sent this because they felt that they were in danger,'" Brandie Gutierrez said.
The location was in Zacatecas.
"They attempted to go on a search of that location, but they were stopped by two officers, two or three officers, and they were not allowed to enter that zone because it was too dangerous," Brandie Gutierrez said.
The Zacatecas government has since issued a missing person alert for all four of them.
Meanwhile, back in Hamilton, Jose Gutierrez's six siblings and parents hope and pray they get answers soon.
"We just want him back home. We want to know something," Brandie Gutierrez said. "We are all worried."
The Department of State said in a written statement:
"The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad. We stand ready to provide appropriate assistance to U.S. citizens in need and to their families. We are aware of reports of a U.S. citizen missing in Mexico. When a U.S. citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts, and we share information with families however we can."
There is a travel advisory in effect for that region of Mexico. The United States has warned people not to travel to Zacatecas because of the number of kidnappings and violent crimes.
WLWT has been in contact with a journalist in Mexico who said that the region is now one of the most violent states in Mexico, especially along the highways, because of clashes between two cartels.
This bar is in Jerez which is contested by CDS and CJNG. Had they done their homework they would have known that Jerez is one of the last places to go. Metro Guadalajara would have been much safer.
ReplyDeleteCertainly, we hope and pray for their safe return.
Police cover up.
Delete@10:56. Isn't she from that area? Sounds strange that she could be oblivious to the danger.
DeleteThat bar in that area is fine. They were taken later, and it had nothing to do with a lack of homework. But yeah, I hope they are released.
DeleteJames Brown:
DeleteI believe that they said that she was from the Jalisco side 30 minutes south. I agree with you that it is hard to believe that she wasn't aware of the dangers. I can understand the fiance not be fully informed. He's a long way from the border.
A lot of people assume that folks who disappear were probably in the game. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I'm not seeing anything in these news stories that suggests that any of them were into organized crime. He seems to be a young man concentrating on his future. I'm sure we all share in these families frustration and hope for the best.
Also, I like your music.
Family members went looking into the area, and we're stopped by Police? Does that make sense? Sounds more like a police cover up, as the 1 48hours are crucial. More likely the police are protecting the criminals, perhaps it's the police themselves that are involved.
ReplyDeleteProbably not policía. Very sad.
DeleteFeliz Año Nuevo BB! 💥🎉☀️💫🚀🌶🍺🤟🇺🇸🇲🇽✝️
Yes, it does make sense. These areas are treated almost like war zones at night and police regularly prevent people chasing up lost loved ones. Though I'm not saying there wasn't police involvement.
DeleteTravel advisory in place for a reason, so let's pay no attention and go out to dinner. After all, it won't happen to us.
ReplyDeleteLa Straw let's hope the FBI can furnish information, without stepping into Mexico, and dealing with a non curupt agency to find them before it's too late.
DeleteIt's where she lives. Life goes on dude. They were unlucky.
DeleteMy gut tells me life isn't going on for the 4 victims
Delete@9.43- Yeah. I meant life went on for these people, and the other thousands who went out that night, in a state that isn't defined by fucking CJNG vs CDS. According to LASTRAW they ignored good advice that was sent to US tourists, so it's kind of their own fault. Fuck it...
DeleteLA STRAW
DeleteWhy they kidnapped them?
No ransom was heard made.
Possibly they got killed to be used to accompany a manta.
Police agencies in Mexico so slow to investigate.
I thought FBI was going to get Intel.
Soubds like America. But america covers shit up alot better i guess ibmean amwrica does whatever they feel like ans then. Screams patriotism!!!!!! Which really boils down to a bunch of bored southern kids who jerk off over guns and say their mission into help our boarders. And we all say.. Yeah america americaaa Very sad
ReplyDelete2:24: Unlucky? It's true that it's where She lives, but they took the chance going into an area clearly very violent, for a meal. They gambled and lost. I would have had my Birthday cake at home or in Ohio.
ReplyDeleteThat area isn't violent, which is why they went there, and it wasn't where they were taken. It was where the US media could get witnesses to interview, so they can home in like vultures hoping for 4 corpses on a roadside. But I guess they should have stayed home.
Delete7:23 you convoluted misfiring, this happened in Mexico, not the USA.
DeleteYou like jiberish Sir.
Zacatecas isn't violent? Your's is the attitude that I don't understand. Even when it's staring you right in the face, denial.
Delete7:23 PM: Are you high? There are lots of innocent people disappeared from Jerez.
Delete@8.52. I'm responding from comments from people IN the US, who think that when they hear about ''travel bans'' it means that people who live in that particular area should hunker down instead of living their lives as best they can. That bar isn't dangerous. When I said ''life goes on'' I meant life goes on in Zacatecas despite cartel struggles. People suggesting they were stupid for going out for a meal in Zacatecas are full of it. Of course people disappear in Jerez, and of course you have to careful, but some of these comments are written by people who can only look at an area from a single perspective- The chance they would have, if they went, of being flayed, or decapitated on camera.
DeleteI didn't say Zacatecas wasn't violent. I was talking about the area where they were last seen.
DeleteBreak my underwear
DeleteYep you said it's violent.
@ 9.28 I said the area where they were last seen by witnesses, the bar in Jerez, isn't violent. Zacatecas is a state, not a fucking street.
DeleteYes break my underwear it's violent everywhere in Mexico.
Delete@11.02. Keep up. And stop coming on to me.
DeleteBreak my underwear.
DeletePlace is violence.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteAs far as the gvt is concerned if your name ain't Kiki or work for uncle scam it will be "too bad so sad we posted warnings on going to Mexico".
ReplyDeleteSo, yeah take heed of gvt warnings as you are your own risk!
Days have passed, what are the chances they will be found alive, no mentioned of a ransom.
ReplyDeleteBad timing for the Mexican Tourism Ministry to
ReplyDeletebe lobbying the U.S.
State Department
to eaze it's travel advisories.
Well Hell yes. The possibility of getting flayed or decapitated on or off camera is a strong deterrent for this lady. Did not say they deserved what happened, but they were aware of the chances.
ReplyDeleteNo. It is only a strong deterrent for idiots who watch too much fucking gore. And you didn't say they deserved it, not in so many words, because you asked rhetorical questions you're now backing away from.
DeleteOh my! Stay calm BML, and eat a taco!
Delete@LASTRAW. Yeah, I should. And that's advice to live your life by. Have a good year.
DeleteAny updates on this couple?
ReplyDeleteDid they finally make it home?
It looks like their vehicle was found. Possible bodies were found as well pending DNA verification. Very sad news.
ReplyDelete