On January 5th we told you the story of 21year old Puerto Rican National, Jose Miguel Pietri Tello, who was on board the Liberty of the Seas Cruise Ship when he went missing.
But on the night of January 4th, Tello was in the company of his mother when they took a last picture together some five hours before he disappeared. The following morning around 8 his mother, Margarita Tello couldn't find him and reported him missing. According to the police report, a review of the ship's cameras showed Tello jumping off the twelfth deck.
That happened out in the blue and the search efforts for the twenty one year old have since been called off without any results.
But yesterday Margarita Tello returned to Belize along with an Attorney to get help. Attorney, Ibrahim Reyes told us that they believe something is awry and that Jose didn't commit suicide:
Ibrahim Reyes, attorney
"There is still hope that they might find him one way or another like I said because while it could be incredible to find this young man alive. It would also be fine to find him so she can have closure in her life."
Andrea Polanco
"I know today you met with the coast guard, the police department as well whats the outcome of those meetings that you had?"
Ibrahim Reyes, attorney
"Well several things, number one; I want to commend the Belize Coast Guard, we met with its officer, his name is Gregory Soberanis and I have nothing but greatfulness towards him. I know that he conducted a professional mission, it is unfortunate that he receive a call to commence a search and rescue mission at arouund 11am of January 5th even the mom had reported her son missing at 7am to the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas personnel so I am upset about that delay and so was officer Soberanis as you may know 4 hours is a huge window of opportunity to search for someone at sea and that window was closed uneccessarily."
Andrea Polanco
"So what's the word coming out from the police department?"
Ibrahim Reyes, attorney
"Well from the police department; not much that the mission ended. We know that they have video tapes so we are on our way now to pick up copies of the video tapes that they have from the cruise ship. They have 3 different CDs that we want to get, of course we are entitked to them but none the less we ask for them and we are on our way to get them now. We also met with port authorities, they were also very helpful in sharing information with us and was the coast guard. The coast guard personnel was very kind, they explain to us how the mission was conducted, the area of the search, the timing of the search, we learnt many things that were not known until today."
Andrea Polanco
"I know that you took this picture with your son a couple hours before he went missing. Did he give any indication that maybe he had any problem? Was he not feeling well?"
Margarita Tello, Mother
"None, we were having a lot of fun. There was a group from Puero Rico, very close friends, we were having a lot of fun, he was even going to come down to Belize, they had everything to go scuba diving bedcause he has a license in that and he just dissapeared."
Andrea Polanco
"Was he by chance under the influence of alcohol that night or.....?"
Margarita Tello, Mother
"Everybody was dancing having fun. Nothing of the extraordinary, nothing strange, same way as always."
Andrea Polanco
"They have video tapes that shows when they are still not sure whether he jump off or whether he fell off accidentally. So you havent seen those video tapes?"
Margarita Tello, Mother
"No I havesnt seen them."
Ibrahim Reyes, attorney
"I can comment on that. I have already spoken to personell at the coast and the other authorities, they have seen the video, eventhough initially the group of the crusie line told the media that this has been a suicide just like the captain of the captain of the ship told Ms. Tello that this had been a suicide. Those who have viewed the video and we are about to view it shortly. Those who have view the video told me otherwise and they had not seen at all like he had jump, we have found very unsettling evidence today for intance, we know that minutes he fell overboard he had been seen by a lady who works on the cruise ship and he was seen sweating profusely like in a confuse state on mind and rather than ask for assistant or guide him inside the ship to his cabin or to a physician he was left wondering on the deck. Which is minutes later he fell overboard. Let me make it very clear, this is not a suicide."
Margarita Tello, Mother
"I am asking for help, everybody that sees him or his body or whatever that we are here to please contact us."
Reyes said that even though they are scheduled to return on Saturday, they might stay longer to look for answers. If you have any information that can help you can call Ibrahim Reyes at room 305 at the Radisson Hotel or call 305-218-0982.
