Loved ones say the couple was last seen in a town in Veracruz, which is currently under a travel advisory.
The Mysterious Disappearance of Frank Guzman and Caroline Katba
An eternal wanderlust was how Elizabeth Guzman described her brother Frank, a PhD student at UT Austin studying anthropology. Frank and his wife, Caroline Katba, were on a journey through Mexico when they suddenly vanished, leaving friends and family distraught and seeking answers.
Frank Daniel Guzman was reported missing by the Texas Department of Public Safety after he was last seen in Austin on July 18. According to Elizabeth, their last known location was in the town of Coatzacoalcos in the Veracruz state of Mexico, where they were traveling by car towards Chile in a gray 2016 Toyota Prius hatchback with the Texas license plate SDM 2449.
Concerns escalated as Veracruz is currently under an “Exercise Increased Caution” warning by the State Department due to violent crime and gang activity. Despite the risks, Elizabeth, friends, and authorities are tirelessly working to locate the missing couple and remain hopeful for their safe return.
“There’s a version of me that felt normal before all of this, and now I can’t be,” Elizabeth said. “I’m a sibling who desperately misses her brother and her sister-in-law.”
Nestor Rincon, a close friend of Frank Guzman, expressed his worries and hopes for more memories to come, emphasizing the uncertainty that has gripped their circle.
As the search intensifies, UT Austin and both American and Mexican authorities are involved in the effort to find Frank and Caroline. Anyone with information is urged to contact the DPS Missing Persons Clearinghouse for assistance.
KVUE News has reached out to UT Austin for further details on the search and confirms their collaboration with international response teams to aid in locating missing travelers.