GUATEMALA CITY, March 10, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The parents of a British tourist
who has been missing in Guatemala for the past five days launched an
emotional appeal for her return Saturday as authorities continued their
investigation.
Catherine Shaw, 23, was last seen Monday at a hotel in San Juan La Laguna
near the country’s fabled Lake Atitlan, about 75 kilometers (45 miles) west
of the capital Guatemala City.
The area is famous for its lakes beneath towering volcanoes. Lake Atitlan
is one of Guatemala’s main tourist attractions.
Her parents put up a video appeal on the Twitter account of the Lucie
Blackman Trust, a British charity that provides support to the families who
have relatives missing, murdered or in a crisis abroad.
“Hello Catherine, we’ve been out of touch for five days and we, your
family, your friends, we really need to know you’re happy and that you’re
well. So please get in touch, get in touch with us, and we really need you
home,” said her mother, who did not provide her name on the video.
“If anybody has any information, at all, please contact us, the Lucie
Blackman Trust, or the police,” added her father. “Please come home,
sweetheart.”
Shaw was described as being five feet seven inches tall (170 centimeters)
and of slim build, with blonde hair, blue eyes and piercings in her nose, lip
and ears.
She had been traveling in Guatemala for two weeks having previously been
in Mexico and California, leaving home in England in September 2018,
according to the charity.
Eduardo Smith, the British embassy spokesman, told Prensa Libre that
embassy staff were working with Guatemalan police on the case.