The grim reality of a community's worst fears materialized this week with the confirmation of a body found in a Gilroy waterway as that of Gabriel Laradelara, a 21-year-old man from San Martin, who vanished earlier this month. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office reported deputies responding to the scene last Sunday after receiving reports of an unresponsive person located near Monterey Road at Rucker Avenue, where they found Laradelara deceased.
Laradelara's family had been desperately searching since his initial disappearance on December 1, with community support. His vehicle, a 2003 black Infinity FX45, was previously found abandoned in the vicinity of where his body was ultimately discovered. The Sheriff's Office is actively investigating the cause and has enlisted the help of Crime Scene Investigators and the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office, with an appeal to the public for any additional information.
According to a Hoodline report, the Gilroy community had been working to find Laradelara, circulating descriptions and urging residents to share any potentially useful information. The 5’ 7” young man, weighing around 140 pounds, was last seen in the area where his body was found, and his sudden disappearance had sparked an outpour of community concern.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office has reiterated its request for the public's help. Anyone with insights or who may have witnessed anything relevant is strongly encouraged to call the Sheriff's office at 408-808-4500, or they can submit tips anonymously through the investigative tip line at 408-808-4431 or email at [email protected].
