“He’s not at home.” At ten o’clock on the morning of July 11, Javier’s phone rang. It was Patricia Martins Lorenzo’s aunt, a relative who spent long hours with her sister, the mother of two. The call confirmed that Patricia, 49, had vanished. He had left his Vegueta district home in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria earlier that week. Since then, search efforts and anxious waiting have continued without interruption.
Friends describe Patricia as smiling, sociable, supportive, and affectionate. She enjoyed swimming, walking, and running, though she faced difficult times after dealing with depression. Her aunt and others helped her through those moments. Despite their efforts, the family reports that she drifted away from the routines that once anchored her. They pursued every possible path to bring her back — through sea and land, across the island, and beyond, hoping for any clue to locate her. The urgency is clear: they need the public, in turn, to assist in the search because Patricia’s condition makes her whereabouts uncertain and dangerous. Any information could prove vital, they say, and they welcome it openly.
Patricia is shown in a photo at a training track, reflecting the active side of her life. The status remains open as the investigation continues to unfold.
Javier, one of Patricia’s two children, recalls July 11 with a heavy heart. He was finishing a night shift when his family contacted him. He arrived home around eleven in the morning, expecting to see his mother, but she was nowhere to be found. A walk had taken her away, and hours later there was still no sign of her.
From the moment they noticed her absence, the family wondered where Patricia might be and what could have happened. By that afternoon, they filed a formal complaint with the National Police. The description of Patricia noted that she was 49 years old, about 1.65 meters tall, and weighed around 80 kilograms. She carried documents and her keys but did not have a phone. Authorities highlighted her history of depression and recent struggles, including intermittent drug use. Searches extended across nearly the entire island, even taking a boat along the coastline. A disappearance alert went out immediately and has remained active since.
Patricia’s photo, shared by her family, appeared with a visible note about the ongoing disappearance alert. The status stayed open as investigators combed through every lead.
Patricia had recently visited Telde but did not remain there. It was essential that the early hours be reviewed, and authorities began to reconstruct the steps she took in those crucial hours after noon on July 11. A security camera in La Garita, a district of Telde, captured her presence at noon, though the exact purchases she made remain unknown. After that moment, silence fell and nothing more could be confirmed.
Depression had settled into Patricia’s life despite a history of adventurous living. She was a devoted mother of two who had separated amicably from her ex-husband. The roots of her struggle remain unclear, and those around her had long called for help. There was talk of insufficient access to mental health resources, with suggestions that her needs were not fully met by the available care. The family recalls attempts to find a suitable hospital solution and mentions a recurring cycle of seeking treatment, only to be sent home without a definitive diagnosis. The family mourns the possibility that her condition could have deteriorated, and they wonder whether a different approach might have changed the outcome.
Photos from Patricia’s life — her love of swimming, sports, and the outdoors — illustrate a life driven by activity and curiosity. Earlier in life, she worked in banking despite a background in law, and she later focused on recovery and personal growth. A daily commitment to self-care and resilience shaped her path forward. Messages she shared in the public sphere emphasized self-love, perseverance, and the belief in moving ahead. She used social media to encourage others to keep walking forward, even when the road grew tough.
Went to Telde, but did not stay
The case moved quickly in the first hours, with family members hoping for fast progress. Later, investigators pieced together Patricia’s movements in the hours after the initial sighting. A store in La Garita, Telde, provided essential footage showing her last known presence there around noon on July 11. The precise purchases remain unclear, and after that moment the trail went cold. The incident prompted a renewed focus on what happened in that vulnerable period and the steps following it.
Depression has taken hold
Patricia’s life was marked by a resilient spirit and by bouts of depression that interrupted everyday joy. She was described as a mother of two who could be warm and sunny yet struggled with a mental health crisis. The family has long sought more robust support systems and accessible care, and they recall doctors and therapists expressing that mental health issues could be deeply challenging to manage, sometimes requiring more sustained intervention. The questions about triggers and effective treatment persisted, and the family faced the painful reality that timely help had not always arrived when needed. The hope is that insights from this case contribute to better understanding and improved care for others facing similar battles.
Photos from Patricia’s life show a woman who loved swimming and sport and who found meaning in activity and connection. Her earlier professional life included banking, with a professional background in law, and she dedicated herself to personal recovery, writing and striving to use her experiences to inspire others. The message she left behind was one of self-acceptance and perseverance. She believed in the importance of asking for help and not giving up, even when the road seemed hardest.
“The doctor told my mom: You don’t have a disease, you just face a problem and you can deal with it at home.”
The ongoing story includes highs and lows. Patricia sought admission to care on several occasions, sometimes accompanied by ambulance transport and hospital stays that did not always lead to a lasting solution. The family recalls a recurring cycle of seeking treatment only to be sent back home. The doctor’s words echoed: a problem to be managed at home, a stance that left the family uncertain about the best path forward. The search for Patricia would reveal that she never stopped trying to live with hope, even as the search grew more challenging.
Decided to disappear
With no clues or traces, Patricia’s family turned to social networks for help. Early responses generated attention, but the momentum faded over time. Police reports indicated that she was a sane adult who may have chosen to leave home, creating a complex risk profile. The family clung to the possibility that she could still be safe, even as the official perspective suggested otherwise. The decision to disappear, given her mental health history, added a layer of concern and urgency to the case, prompting continued vigilance and outreach.
The Ministry of Interior outlines a search protocol for missing persons that recognizes mental health issues as a factor. Voluntary departure is not always simple to interpret, especially in cases involving cognitive impairment, mental disorders, or other conditions that can influence decision-making. Those realities underscore the importance of careful assessment and intervention to support individuals in crisis.
The discussions cooled, and then there was silence. The family asked the persistent question: Where are you? Two months passed with little new information. The haunting sense that something might have happened to Patricia lingered, and the family faced the painful possibility that she was no longer alive. Yet they could not close the door on every possibility; the search would continue, and so would the hope that she would be found safe or that a new lead would emerge. The narrative remained a testament to love and resilience in the face of uncertainty.
She was described as someone who brought warmth to everyone around her. A community member who rallied others to help, she faced life with a bright spirit and a willingness to support others. Those who knew her remember a woman who would step forward to assist at home and abroad, someone who always appeared cheerful and ready to share a smile. The search continues as friends and family hold onto the belief that Patricia is out there, and they call for renewed help and fresh eyes to bring closure to the story.
The family still keeps the memory alive, sharing Patricia’s name in hopes of sparks that could rekindle a trail or reconnect with a missing piece of her life. They continue to look for her in every corner, through every network, and across the landscape where she once moved with ease. Patricia is dearly missed by all who knew her, and the collective effort to find her endures.