Sandra Culi: A Community’s Search for Truth After a Disappearance in Vilassar de Mar

Sandra Culi, a 44-year-old veterinary professional and animal lover, disappeared after a family dinner in Vilassar de Mar, near Barcelona, on December 26, 2020. After a Christmas gathering at her mother-in-law’s home, she left alone for a walk in the late afternoon. It was Sant Esteve, a local holiday tradition, and she chose to clear her head without her phone. She left at five in the evening, and by eight o’clock the family sounded the alarm. By nine, it was clear she would not return that night.

Sandra, an accomplished veterinarian with a lifelong love of animals, was photographed with a Dalmatian she had years before her disappearance. OPEN STATUS

That night they went to the police station. Family members noted mistakes in the initial response and described how her phone and bank statements were checked only weeks later. The search began, but progress stalled after a few days. Mossos d’Esquadra later cited suicide as a possible reason for her disappearance, a theory her friends disputed. They describe a close group, a chosen family—Mireia, Carles, and another friend named Sandra—who had always stood by one another, united in a long-standing bond that had grown stronger with time. The group, tied together by shared memories and ongoing concern, continued to pursue clues as a way to honor Sandra’s spirit and presence in their lives.

Last conversation

Carles recalls the days leading up to the vanishing. He says he called Sandra on the 24th and received a reply but no definitive answer. He sent a text saying they were headed to Vilassar and would catch up soon. The messages Sandra saved suggested she was not saying goodbye. She had written “talk” two days before she disappeared, a simple reminder of the ongoing connection they shared.

Mireia adds that those days were filled with family gatherings and the usual Christmas routines. Santa Esteban was a time for shared meals and laughter, though the heaviness of the holidays lingered for Sandra’s friends. She notes that Sandra never indicated a desire to vanish; plans for after the holidays were still in place, and she remained engaged with friends and family. The sense of a sudden, unexplained departure unsettled everyone.

The 27th brought a new concern. Sandra was missing, and her partner Jordi reported that she had been distressed and crying. The group quickly contacted their other friend Sandra and leaned on each other more than ever. When Mireia heard the news, she describes a wave of shock, followed by a cold realization: a search that had started with hope now faced a harsh, unsettling possibility.

Sandra appeared in warning photos to inform the public of her disappearance. OPEN STATUS

Hours after the search began, authorities asked for calm and patience, suggesting a full 24 hours to pass before drawing conclusions. The family and friends prepared for the function of routine checks while keeping faith that Sandra would return.

Officials described Sandra as slender, 1.68 meters tall, around 50 kilograms, with long blond hair. On the day she vanished she wore black pants, a dark jacket, a scarf, sneakers, and carried a fluorescent green backpack. Her car remained in the same place, and she had not returned home to Barcelona or to the other residences she owned in Terrassa or Manresa. The representative emphasized that there had been no known family disputes or incidents on that day. Her husband, Jordi, had been ill and unable to walk, which may have influenced the day’s events. Mireia recalls that Sandra did not carry her phone that day, a detail that unfortunately fit with the broader questions surrounding the disappearance. The investigation was officially opened and moving forward.

Cameras and the sea path

Within hours, hundreds of volunteers joined the effort. An emergency committee formed, and social media alerts helped mobilize a wide network of supporters. Carles describes coordinating efforts from behind the scenes while Sandra’s other friend guided ground teams. Volunteers mapped Vilassar, focusing on seaside routes where Sandra used to walk. They called her name again and again, hoping for a trace. Yet the search did not yield a clear lead.

Mossos d’Esquadra reviewed surveillance footage and found brief glimpses of Sandra leaving the house, but the trail largely faded after she followed her usual paths. Some cameras near the Yacht Club stopped recording, leaving gaps in the timeline. The team pressed on, determined to understand the last moments before she vanished and to determine whether she had used any trains or traveled elsewhere that day.

A cry in the mountain

The town’s search persisted as days turned into weeks. The New Year approached with a sense of urgency and fear. The family turned their attention to the mountains near Vilassar, where search efforts intensified. Mireia recalls the daunting scale of the task and the constant reminder that Sandra might be somewhere remote and difficult to access. Some areas of the trail seemed promising, but no solid signs materialized.

A dramatic moment arrived when volunteers reported hearing a distressing sound near a quarry. The moment sparked a renewed push to search that particular area, with Carles recalling the uncertainty of whether the sound was human or something else. The group pressed on, hopeful for clues but mindful of the emotional toll.

As the search extended, firefighters and trained dogs joined the effort. The team scoured the terrain, but the silence remained. The work continued, with the community standing in solidarity for Sandra and her family, refusing to accept silence as the final word.

A different theory

By January, a different hypothesis appeared in official communications. The possibility of suicide emerged as a police-led conclusion; a hand-to-hand phone record surfaced weeks later, suggesting Sandra might have sought information on how to end her life. Jordi, her partner, asserted that the theory did not fit Sandra’s character. Mireia and Carles shared similar doubts, pointing to Sandra’s strength, plans, and ongoing energy. They believed she would not simply abandon her life or family without a clear reason.

The family’s skepticism extended to physical and environmental factors. The coastal area on the day of disappearance was calm, and there were no cliffs in the vicinity that would fit a quick, decisive end. The sea might have provided some answers, yet the clues did not align with Sandra’s known routines or her personal resilience. The friends stress that the absence of a definitive ending leaves room for alternative explanations.

Sandra, with close friends and a dedicated support group, OPEN STATUS

Sandra studied veterinary medicine, earned a Masters in Clinical Research, and worked at Laboratorios Alcon. She was known for her warmth, her laughter, and her unwavering optimism even after facing personal losses. Her friends remember her as someone who loved life, danced, enjoyed museums, and embraced every new experience. They recall her as active, full of vitality, and always ready to try something new. Though the investigation has paused in places, the team remains hopeful that Sandra’s remains will be found and that answers will come. San Esteban remains a point of memory for those who knew her—an evening when the town paused to gather with family and friends. The hope endures that she will be discovered and brought back into the light.

They need answers. They need Sandra. The core group will not stop seeking truth or offering support to one another until Sandra is found or a clearer resolution is achieved.