She described the moment: a sudden departure, no goodbye, and a plan that relied on his absence being noticed. The goal was to spread Martina’s photo and seek cooperation from residents. The family reported no signs of life, and after 48 hours of frantic searching and mounting worry, the alarm was lowered. Martina, known to her family as Marta, had reached out, pledging that she was safe and asking for warnings to be dismissed. The family recalls this with a heavy heart.
He is 45 years old and has a son. He had been missing since January 9. Without a word, without a farewell, he left his father’s house in Puerto Real early in the morning. He did not pace out with a plan; he left quietly, with his phone turned off. A sister-in-law described the situation as unprecedented and frightening, fearing for his life.
Public concern rose quickly. The campaign spread across social networks, posters appeared, and alerts were sent to various media outlets. The plea from the family was clear: any clue that could lead to him was crucial. Marta’s absence weighed heavily on those left behind.
Between 8:30 and 10:00
January 9, 2024. It was just after eight in the morning when Martha woke. He was not feeling well, and his father brought him ibuprofen. He returned to his room and seemed to settle back into sleep. By around ten, Marta had vanished from the residence. A coffee had been made; the cup lingered in the sink as she grabbed her bag and left.
Hours passed and there was still no sign of her. Calls went unanswered, messages remained undelivered. The family filed a report that same afternoon. Investigators noted a recent argument with her father and brother the night before and the likelihood she had left on her own. The initial assessment suggested she had chosen to be away, not forced to leave.
Her sister-in-law recalled dialing emergency services to provide more context. The history of depression and prior struggles with substances, along with insights from a psychologist, were part of the family narrative. The urgency of the search intensified when it became clear Marta was at elevated risk of self-harm.
Six days ago: homecoming
There had been six days of stay at home with her father. Earlier in the year, Marta had chosen to enter a detoxification program in Huelva to reclaim control over a life that had been shaped by addiction for over a decade. The attempt was a step toward stability, even if progress was fragile.
There had been some level of permission granted from a headquarters, but a warning had been issued when at home. The father’s concern was evident, and disagreements occurred. Marta’s illness could complicate behavior and memory at times, which strained relations within the family.
Secret messages
Sara reviewed days earlier to find additional reasons for Marta’s absence. The Marta she described seemed ordinary at times: she visited a doctor, ran errands, watched TV, and spent considerable time on her phone. She kept messages private, and the family hoped for glimpses that might reveal who she spoke with. Time did not permit them to see everything.
No concrete leads emerged. Two names repeatedly surfaced in conversations: a former partner from San Fernando and a coworker from Seville who had moments together at the detox center. The partner claimed no knowledge of Marta’s whereabouts, while the coworker, reported by sources, had left the center before Christmas leave was granted.
Hope in Sevilla
The remaining hope was that Marta might have headed toward Sevilla, even if the chance seemed slim. Her phone remained inactive, and the family understood that any sighting would need to be verified. They explained that even a small contact, simply to say hello, would provide relief. A request was made to the center to share contact details with the family, but data protection rules prevented this.
During a quiet moment, Sara checked her phone again as calls continued to come in. The family wished for a sign that Marta was safe. The sentiment that emerged was a mix of worry and slow relief at the possibility of a living update. The family remained resolute, hoping for a call that would end the uncertainty.
Throughout the day, Marta’s family continued to seek any information, processing the fear, the frustration, and the hope that the trail might still lead home. The reality remained that Marta had asked for the warnings to be removed once more, a signal that she might want space, yet the family never stopped hoping for a safe return.