Posted on: Friday, August 23, 2002

Missing sailor's brothers issue plea

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

Victorio

Neal

Daniel

The brothers of a Pearl Harbor sailor who has been missing with his two children since July 12 have put out a renewed plea for information on his case, concerned because the normally close family has not heard from him.

Ariel Santiago, a Navy sailor based in Sasebo, Japan, and brother Gilberto Santiago of Kihei, Maui, flew into Honolulu this week to talk with Navy and police investigators on the case. Yesterday they went public with a plea for information from anyone who might have seen Victorio Santiago, 37, and his two sons, Neal, 11, and Daniel, 7.

Ariel Santiago said he last spoke to his brother July 9.

"It was a very common conversation: 'How are you? I'm fine,' " he said. "There was nothing unusual. I was really surprised when this happened."

Gilberto Santiago said it's not unusual for Victorio Santiago to keep personal troubles to himself.

"We're a close family, and we hear each other's happiness," he said. "But with respect to any problem in personal life, we don't really share that well. Especially Victorio. He doesn't share that with anyone."

Gilberto Santiago said he hoped that Victorio would have headed for Bremerton, Wash., where he owns a house, but his brother added that they haven't turned up on manifests for flights out of Honolulu.

Phil Camero, an investigator with the Honolulu Police Department's missing persons detail, said someone in Wahiawa reported seeing the Santiagos in the early days following the disappearance, but those people turned out to be look-alikes. Other sightings in Wailuku and Kahului proved unfounded, Camero said.

The family is concerned that harm may have come to Santiago and the boys, he said. But police also have suspected that the disappearance stems from a custodial dispute involving the children.

If Santiago is hiding out somewhere, Camero said, perhaps he'd have a change of heart.

"We're hoping that perhaps Victorio might see this news release of his brothers making this plea," Camero said.

The Santiagos were last seen leaving their Pearl Harbor home shortly before 1 a.m. July 12. Santiago was driving a rented car — a light-green, four-door Daewoo Leganza, model year 2000 and with the license plate JGS-405.

Victorio Santiago is 5 feet 8 and 150 pounds; Neal is 4 feet 6 and 83 pounds; Daniel is 4 feet 3 and 65 pounds. All three have black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Honolulu Police Department missing persons detail, 529-3394, or file an anonymous report with CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.

Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com, or 525-8053.