A large-scale search operation is underway in Barcelona: five-year-old Gina and her father have been missing for several days since disappearing after the weekend. According to a court order, the girl was supposed to return to her mother on Saturday evening, but this did not happen. Relatives and police are unable to contact the man—his phone is switched off, and all attempts to reach him have been unsuccessful.
The girl’s family notes that her father, Facundo, was supposed to return Gina at a strictly designated time as set by the court. Her mother, Laia, initially decided to wait, hoping her ex-husband was delayed for a valid reason. But after several hours passed, she contacted the police. Since then, there has been no news of either the girl or her father.
Description of the missing
Gina is a fair-haired girl with curly hair and light-colored eyes. Her father is a large man, about 1.9 meters tall and weighing around 120 kilograms. He usually wears a cap and has a tattoo with his daughter’s name on his arm. Relatives urge anyone who may know anything about the whereabouts of Gina and Facundo to call 112 immediately and be sure to specify exactly where they were seen.
The Catalonian police (Mossos d’Esquadra) joined the search immediately after the mother filed a report. Investigators are checking possible routes the father may have taken to leave the city and are interviewing the man’s acquaintances and friends. It is known that Facundo has no relatives in Spain and his social circle is limited to a few friends, who also have no information.
Search efforts expanded
The search has now expanded beyond Barcelona. Police are checking airports and border crossings, not ruling out the possibility that the man may have tried to take his daughter abroad. The family fears that Facundo’s experience as a truck driver could enable him to quickly and quietly cross the border by car.
There have been previous incidents where the father failed to return Gina on time, but this is the first time she has gone missing. On one occasion, when the mother sent the grandparents to pick up her daughter, Facundo drove away with the child, but police quickly intervened and the girl was returned home the next day.
Legal proceedings
The situation is complicated by a criminal case against Facundo in Spain. In September last year, Laia filed a complaint against him for alleged abuse and sought a court restraining order, but the court denied her request. A hearing on the case is scheduled for February.
Laia’s family claims that after they filed the complaint, the man began stalking her, forcing her to move to a new residence. Nevertheless, the court allowed Facundo to see his daughter twice a month, but without overnight visits.
Public reaction
The disappearance of Gina has sparked widespread public outcry in Catalonia. Social networks are flooded with messages seeking help in the search, while volunteers and concerned residents are actively joining the search campaign. The girl’s family hopes that someone may recognize Gina or her father and report them to the police.
As the search continues, Gina’s mother and her relatives remain hopeful for the safe return of the child. Police are urging anyone with information to contact law enforcement immediately.
