The problem in specific is how a missing persons case is handled within the Central Valley town of Los Baños California and its neighboring towns. Unfortunately the Delta Mendota Canal and the California Aqueduct have a known dark history and accessible entry points for many things such as occupied vehicles or people to enter its waters. The other problem is if this missing persons case had been of a suburban family all the help and resources would’ve been provided. Anyone from any walk of life could see these inequalities still exist. 

The San Jose Mercury News published an article September 23rd, 2021 titled: Families of missing Black and brown people are frustrated with ‘Missing White Women Syndrome’

The Los Angeles times had published an article titled Central Valley canal’s murky waters hide dark secrets by Diana Marcum February 1st, 2011. After you read this article you’ll ask yourself “why hasn’t anything been done about this already?” 

The reason there’s a passionate push for change and remedy on these unprotected and accessible deep water entry points is to safeguard these rural areas better. Also to change the police departments procedures in how a missing persons case is handled including the length of time it took to find Santana. There’s measures that could have been taken sooner than later and treated more serious.

Santana Rosales 19 years old when he went missing on August 21st, 2022 and was officially reported missing to the Los Baños Police Department by his family August 26th, 2022 when no type of response or learning of his whereabouts could be determined. 

Los Baños, CA. apparently has a flaw in its system with underwater searches, money and resources for a missings persons case. It took two months before Santana was discovered in his car in the Delta Mendota not too far from an entry point to its waters. Santanas 20th birthday was on September 17th, 2022 while he was being searched for. Santanas missing persons case is now being treated as a homicide. 

Here is the article published by the Merced Sun Star November 3rd, 2022.  Missing Los Banos man’s body found in Delta-Mendota Canal, sheriff’s investigators say 

Several times family members had pleaded to have the waters checked and the responses were ones most families wouldn’t expect to hear in desperate search of their loved one. The Los Baños Police Department had stated to family members that it’s an expensive process to search the waters by having to hire an outside third party source with the necessary equipment. LBPD also stated to family members they didn’t suspect Santana to be in the water where he was later unfortunately found.

Law enforcement could’ve found Santana sooner by simply checking the surrounding waters where a vehicle could be fully submerged. The family might of been able to at least have a viewing for Santana’s funeral and it would’ve helped his case. Hopefully this petition can help the LBPD get the resources and changes it needs for cases such as Santana's. 

The family of Santana unfortunately found out that when a family is desperately searching for a family member that’s goes missing they have little to no help offered. Santana’s family turned to social media and posting flyers in hopes that Santana’s safety and whereabouts could be determined. News paper publications were reached out to and news media with little to no help and or integrity to push Santana’s story further into the spotlight. If it was their family then they would’ve made it a point to do so. 

No family whether poor, middle class or rich should ever have to endure the painful experience and news that their loved one has been missing for over two months in an area of water that could’ve been searched long ago. 

It’s horrible to be told that waters are only searched if there’s a reason to believe that someone is in there or if someone physically sees a car go into the water. The feeling of helplessness is unbelievable and indescribable. 

The family of Santana is advocating for justice. The state of California, LBPD and the county of Merced have the ability to make this change and create the resources needed to check waters immediately. Also place guard rails where entrances to deeper waters can provide more of a safe guard from anything happening accidentally and discourage anyone from doing anything intentionally. The family is also petitioning the town of Gustine, CA. to rename Cottonwood Rd. to Santana’s Rd. in his memory and so that his story is remembered.

If we win this petition we win for every family in the local communities. The local police department wins by getting its much needed resources and equipment. We also hope that if we win, the standards in a missing persons case are held to a higher standard in communities surrounded by accessible deep waters such as the Delta Mendota Canal and the California Aqueduct. Thank you for taking the time to read this petition, signing and donating to promote it. 

ABC 30 News Video

#SantanasJustice #LongLiveSantana #SantanaForever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Santanas Candlelight Vigil     

                       11/12/22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           Santana’s Funeral Services     

                        1/21/23