SANDY, Utah – Elizabeth Elena Laguna Salgado went missing gone year ago.
Salgado’s family believes she’s still alive and they won’t stop searching. They have faith because of Elizabeth Smart’s story and feel like with everyone’s support they will find her.
On Monday, Salgado’s uncle, Rosemberg Salgado made a tearful plea, joined by his sister, Elizabeth Salgado’s mother from Mexico, Libertad Salgado Figuero.
“This message goes to the person who has Elizabeth: If you have any compassion in your heart any goodness and conscious, please listen to my plea and let me niece go,” Rosemberg said.
In Spanish, Libertad Salgado Figuero said:
“It has been a year that my Heavenly Father has given me the strength to carry on. My spouse and my children also feel this emptiness in our hearts. The emptiness to not have Elizabeth Elena. To not know what happened or to understand where she is.”
The Salgados asked for Elizabeth’s Smart’s support, knowing she understands their suffering. Smart was kidnapped 14 years ago. She was missing for nine months before police found her.
“Nobody can stand to not see her come home,” Smart cried. “Nobody can lose faith in bringing her home.”
Provo police won’t stop searching. The family has a reward now at $50,000 to find her.
“We are deep into a long, costly, gut-wrenching investigation,” Sgt. Brian Taylor said. “We spent thousands of hours this year looking for her. We have done every single thing we can think of.”
Both Elizabeth Smart and the Salgado family believe the other “Elizabeth” will come home.
“We as a community need to pull together,” Smart said. “I’m so grateful for the community I am come from and I feel like if any community can bring her home, it’s this one. Because I came home here.”
Call the Provo Police Department with any information on Salgado’s whereabouts at 801-852-6231.
