Brazilian Man Visiting San Francisco Remains Missing After 1 Week
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- A student from Brazil visiting San Francisco is missing more than a week after he called his family with a disturbing message. Meanwhile, his family has arrived in the Bay Area to help find him.
Paulo Netto spoke to his family in Brazil from the 500 block of Shotwell Street on the evening of October 28th, shortly before he disappeared.
Ana Reis remembers the last words his brother, told him over the phone. "Ana, I'm in trouble. There are some people following me and I need help. Call the police. Call a taxi. Send someone to find me," Reis recalled.
"We've been to hospitals, we've been to shelters. We've spread a few flyers out," she told KPIX 5.
Netto, an art student studying in Los Angeles, came to San Francisco on October 25th looking at studying at the Academy of Art University. Relatives said Netto was supposed to stay for a couple of days, but decided to extend his stay after meeting someone new.
Reis said she knew something was terribly wrong when his brother called one week ago.
"He sounded terrified, afraid, frightening," she said.
Reis said she called the San Francisco Police Department from Brazil. When they arrived at the scene, no one was there.
Police have recently circulated a surveillance photo of a person of interest who used Netto's credit card at a McDonald's in the Mission District on Halloween.
Reis said she wants to find that person and plans to stay in San Francisco until she has answers. "Something happened. We are sure about it. But we feel that we are going to find him," she said.
San Francisco Police said Netto may be in what they described as an "altered state of mind." Anyone with information on the disappearance is asked to contact authorities.
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