Sailor disappears with 2 sons
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
A Pearl Harbor sailor and his two young sons remain missing after two weeks, and police and Navy authorities yesterday pleaded with the public for help in finding them.
Navy Chief Petty Officer Victorio A. Santiago, 37, and his sons Noel, 11, and Daniel, 7, were last seen leaving their Pearl Harbor home July 12 shortly before 1 p.m., authorities said.
Victorio Santiago
Noel Santiago
Daniel Santiago
Santiago was driving a rented, light green, four-door 2000 Daewoo Leganza with the license plate JGS-405. As of yesterday, authorities said they have received no tips on where they might be or what happened to them.
"It's unusual," said Phil Camero, an investigator with the Honolulu Police Department's missing persons detail. "Usually in cases like this, we at least hear some information about the car. Or even information about a possible sighting. But there has been none."
Authorities said they worry about the safety of the children and wonder why Santiago has not contacted anyone, including his wife of nearly 14 years, Anna. Police have not ruled out foul play, Camero said.
"Because the children have not been seen by anyone, including their mother, we're very concerned," Camero said.
Bruce Warshawsky, a special agent with the Navy Criminal Investigative Service, said this case is "not a custody battle," but declined to discuss the couple's personal relationship, only to say that Santiago was a "loving and caring father" and said that his wife was a "loving and caring mother."
Santiago's wife has been cooperating in the investigation and just wants to "see her boys" and "ensure that her husband is fine," Warshawsky said.
Warshawsky declined to give any reasons why Santiago would disappear with his children, but he said Santiago's disappearance is out of character.
"This is the first time, that we're aware of, that he's left with the kids without at least notifying his wife about his whereabouts," Warshawsky said.
He said the Santiagos arrived in Hawai'i in the mid- to late-90s and that his peers described Santiago as a "Five-O" or top-notch sailor.
Santiago was on leave and was scheduled to return to work on July 19, said Navy spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell.
"We did attempt to recall him and contact him when we found that his children were missing," but Santiago was nowhere to be found, Campbell said. When sailors go on leave, they are required to provide points of contact and phone numbers, Campbell said.
During the investigation, Camero said authorities have checked airport passenger lists to determine whether Santiago has left O'ahu. Authorities also have searched Neighbor Islands as well as outside the United States because the Santiagos are from the Philippines, Camero said.
"We have looked into the possibility of Mr. Santiago leaving and going outside of the state and country," Camero said. "Those searches came out negative."
Warshawsky said authorities have interviewed most of Santiago's known family acquaintances, personal friends and associates, but no one has seen or heard from him. Santiago did not have any family in Hawai'i, Warshawsky said.
Santiago is 5 feet 8 inches, 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Neal is 4 feet 6 inches and weighs 83 pounds, and Daniel is 4 feet 3 inches and 65 pounds. Both boys have black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Honolulu Police Department at 529-3115 or file an anonymous report with CrimeStoppers 955-8300, or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
