Man, 44, Still Missing Nearly a Week After Police Find His Car with His Belongings Still Inside

A friend is speaking out as the search for a missing man nears the one-week mark.

Hildefonso DeJesus Carlos, 44, was last seen on foot in the 400 block of Grass Valley Highway in Auburn, Calif., around 9 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 22, according to a news release from the Auburn Police Department (APD).

Surveillance footage captured Carlos near Sierra Elm Center, according to NBC affiliate KCRA. Police have released an image from the footage to aid in the search.

Prior to being seen on camera, Carlos was last at his job at Awful Annie’s Restaurant in Auburn on Wednesday, Aug. 20, per KCRA.

Police reported that Carlos’ car was found two days later, with most of his belongings still inside.

“He is somebody that just enjoys life,” Tomas Evangelista, a friend of Carlos, told KCRA. “It is very out of character.”

Carlos is described as having brown hair and brown eyes. When he disappeared, he was wearing blue pants, a black T-shirt, and black-and-white sneakers. Authorities say it is unclear which direction he may have traveled and note that he has “a noticeable right-sided limp when walking, caused by an unknown injury.”

Additionally, police confirmed with federal partners that Hildefonso has not been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), addressing concerns raised within the community.

Evangelista expressed particular concern for Carlos after a hot weekend in the area where he went missing. The friend has organized search parties over the past several days.

“He’s just loved and all of us, no matter where we come from, deserve to be cared about and in these situations, be searched and looked for in moments of crisis,” Evangelista said.