Family of “Mo” Reflects on One Month Missing

Moreira Monsalve.

By Maui Now Staff

On the one month anniversary of her disappearance, the family of missing Moreira “Mo” Monsalve reflected upon the events of the past month, saying there are more questions than answers.

Monsalve, 46, was last seen a month ago on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, at her ex-boyfriend‘s residence in Wailuku, and was reported missing on Tuesday, Jan. 14 by her daughter, Alexis Felicilda.

“The first day of her disappearance, which was really the beginning of the third day of her disappearance, it was a friend that found her car at the mechanic’s. It was family and friends that began to scour the areas she was last seen, and question the people that may have seen her,” said family members in a press release, who questioned whether police have done enough.

This morning, Maui police’s Lieutenant William Juan said the investigation is still “active,” however, there is no person of interest.

“As far as new leads, that is being handled by the detectives and is confidential in nature,” he said.

In a press release issued by Felicilda, she expressed frustration saying, “with no additional information surfacing or coming in from the Maui Police Department it is hard to know what to do next.”

“At this point in time, although MPD seems to be taking a closer look at this case, precious moments were lost when Moreira was reported missing,” Felicilda’s press release stated.

On Wednesday, police issued a press release touting the department’s efforts to disseminate information via social media and Facebook in the days after Monsalve went missing, including a post that generated “more than 4,400 views.”

Felicilda said she could’ve used information early in the investigation, like contacting the Coast Guard early enough to warrant the deployment of resources in the search of waters around Maui.

Family members also wondered what was found in a dumpster that was searched in Wailuku in the days following Monsalve’s disappearance, and why her ex-boyfriend was allowed to leave the state as reported by Hawaii News Now earlier this month.

“With the report that the ex-boyfriend has been seen leaving the island it’s obvious that the clues to her disappearance are not concrete enough to build a case,” Felicilda’s press release stated.

When asked about an investigation conducted at Papohaku Park in Wailuku on Jan. 16 that involved the search of a dumpster, Lt. Juan said, “I am not able to confirm what was found in the dumpster and if it was connected to this case.”

“Although family and friends have been dedicated to finding Moreira and have trusted the MPD to do their investigation it is hard for them to take this news sitting down,” Felicilda’s press release stated.

Family and friends of Monsalve posted an update on their Facebook page saying Feb. 12, “marks a full month with little to go on that is concrete[.] We all flip back and forth between sadness and anger.”

Carly “Charli” J. Scott. Photo courtesy Fiona Wais.

The update comes as the department faces yet another missing person case — this time involving 27-year-old Carly “Charli” Joann Scott who is five months pregnant, and who was last seen at around 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, at her sister’s house in Haʻikū.

According family members, Scott then went to help her ex-boyfriend who was having car trouble and was stuck at around mile post 20 of the Hāna Highway on Sunday night.

Scott was reported missing on Monday, Feb. 10, and police issued a missing person crime bulletin seeking the public’s help shortly after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Family members of Scott also set up a social media Facebook page to assist in organizing search efforts and disseminating information.

Anyone with information on either case is asked to call Maui police at (808) 244-6400.