In the summer of 2002, a family upheaval in Honolulu, Hawaii, led to the disappearance of 11-year-old Noel Santiago and his younger brother, 7-year-old Daniel. On what is believed to be July 12th, the boys' father, Victorio Santiago, a Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, visited the family home on the Pearl Harbor naval base. He and the boys' mother were estranged, and a protective order was in place.
Following a heated argument during which he reportedly assaulted his wife, Victorio left with Noel and Daniel in a rental car. This was not the first time Victorio had taken the children after a dispute, but in the past, he had always returned them safely within a few hours. This time, however, they vanished without a trace.
The disappearance triggered an extensive search by the Honolulu Police Department and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The light green Daewoo Leganza sedan that Victorio had rented was never found, despite thorough searches of the island of Oahu, including its surrounding waters. Investigators explored the possibility that Victorio, a native of the Philippines, might have taken the boys to his home country. However, there was no evidence to suggest they had left Hawaii, as their passports were left behind. In the days following their disappearance, some of Victorio's relatives received troubling letters from him. In these letters, he expressed sorrow over his failed marriage and separation from his sons, and made statements that some interpreted as suicidal.
Years have passed with no sign of Noel, Daniel, or their father. The initial hope of a parental abduction in which the children were safe has faded over time, replaced by more grim possibilities. Law enforcement has stated they do not believe the trio are still alive in Hawaii. The case has been featured on 'America's Most Wanted' and continues to be an active investigation, with age-progressed photos of the boys and their father released periodically in the hope of generating new leads. The ambiguous circumstances have left family members in a painful state of uncertainty, clinging to the hope of one day discovering what happened to the two young brothers who disappeared on a summer night in Hawaii.Last Seen: Jul 12, 2002
