My husband is missing
 

My husband, John Persson, left home Houston, TX on March 5, 2011. The last time I heard from him was by email on March 25th. He was in Colombia.

It is the most horrific, cruel treatment a human being can go through. I do not know if he's alive or hidding. At least in death there is some closure.
We have been married for 21 years so I am very lost as to why the abandonment. I'm just a bird without wings.
He is 57 years old and rides a 2001 BMW R1150GS

Thank you for your help.
Ida

missing
 

You may want to post more info ( general direction of travel , where he was staying and maybe a link where somone can see what he does look like)

First off, I hope your husband turns up safe and sound.

Anything more specific will be helpful, such as pictures of him and is bike, his last known whereabouts, what his interests are and where he might have been headed, etc.

Another place to post would be on advrider.com, in the Latin America forum here:

Latin America - ADVrider

The universe of international motorcycle travellers is still relatively small, and it's amazing how many of them know, or know of, the others in a region at any one time. advrider users "theturtleshead" and "kaiserkyhl" operate businesses in Colombia that cater to moto travellers, and they would be well worth contacting.

Best of luck.

Have you contacted the US embassy in Columbia? They might be able to determine if he's cross the border, etc.?

I assume you have checked with his bank, to see when and where his last ATM withdrawl was?

specifics?
 

Hi Coteperrson- aka :confused1:

I cannot help you locate your husband, but I know at least a couple motorcycle people in S.A. - One in Medellin Colombia. But specifics are needed.

1. Name Age and specifics help, hair color, balding, preference for facial hair, glasses, clothing.

2. type of bike he's riding, pictures of him or his bike could help.

3. track his bank records

4. his traveling preferences, alone, groups, at night,

5. character preferences, his modes of socialization


don't give specifics that would hurt him should he be just fine and kick'n it somewhere out of the range of the internet. or hell, maybe banking account info and credit card numbers are just what the world needs right now!

if you're really concerned you could hire a tracker -

John Persson's blog
 

Black Sea Nymphs - ADVrider

Last we heard John Persson was in Colombia, please let us know if you hear anything, whether he's alive or not. At least in death there is some closure, not knowing is a horrific, grave thing to have to go through. Thank you.

missing
 

You will get better attention if you had reply to your original post as this post can give the impression that it is another person missing .

Here is the link provided by his wife to his old adv report

Black Sea Nymphs - ADVrider

Last we heard John Persson was in Colombia, please let us know if you hear anything, whether he's alive or not. At least in death there is some closure, not knowing is a horrific, grave thing to have to go through. Thank you.

Contacts
 

Certainly a current photo of himself and his bike would be a big help.With it those of us here in Colombia can go about asking at the bike shops etc.
We are quite a close knit biking community here and Colombians are always very willing to help.
Al

albert see the post above yours photos from last year both him bike and possible gear if hes still using the same as last ride report, hes the older guy with the 70s police tache and the black 1150 with plastic luggage and texas plates. I have also posted in the s america section of adv as there was nothing there, looks like columbia/ ecuador is turning into a biker bermuda triangle

Missing husbund
 

Hi Dear
I am sorry to hear that your husband is missing.We crossed Colombia and is not as bad as people say, i am sure he is fine . However we know a big motorcycle group in Calli and they know many people so you can send a email to them . They are an amazing people and I am sure they will help you.
They are registered in horizons ,ASTURIAS.
You can post some pics of him here.

Where?
 

Where was he the last time you had contact with him? Where did he enter Colombia.
All the bike shops here know each other,so if he,s done any servicing or bought tyres they know about him.
Al

J. Persson is alive but missing
 

For everyone to know it,

Colombia is not a dangerous place but a pacific and friendly place as every other Latin American country.
Absolutely anyone, can have confidence that life is safe everywhere as long you don't get in trouble. This is my experience along my life.


John Persson is alive and currently hanging in Colombia around Pereira-Medellin area. It is not of my business to get involve on this ordeal or husband/wife private matters. However I understand the siituation and I feel sorry for what Ida Cote is living right know, no money left, no current job , etc. It is up to his husband (J.Persson) to stand up and fix the situation.

John Persson used my services before going to Colombia to ship his motorcycle to Cartagena. I know by a short email that he was able to retrieve his bike and leave.
The bike is a BMW 1150 GS with blue stripes. John appear to be a good and gentle person, but hearing Ida and her despair, it really hurt us to see a woman having economic and personal distress. I have a family too.

By Ida and a few emails to me, the US American Embassy in Colombia was notified and also several other such Ecuador,Peru and Chile. I think U.S. immigration too, which have a taught law when a person is over 65 yrs. old is married and abandon.
The Colombia US Embassy is doing a great effort to find him and advising the police and borders control I think.

I hope and Ida too that somebody, is going to recognize him and at least advising him of what he is up to in the future , good or bad news.

I know, the HUBB was not made for this kind of issues but, we all hope, as adventurous riders (and not riders) be a little more responsible with our family, wife, kids and in general which others.

Anybody can have their own problems and as always, there are two side stories, but in this case I agree with Ida. Leaving home is one thing, but leave a woman behind and just disappear without economic support, my god!!, it is punishable to me.

Thanks

GAston your can you confirm the following

He is alive and well and that you have had contact with him or you know someone who has seen him recently.

My communications with him lasted till the end of March when he received his motorcycle title in Pereira.
The mails were strictly business because I did all the shipment for him. I knew what was going on at that moment but I didn't want to get into private matters.

So, my guess is that he is ok and 'alive' of course. Ida Cote is the only one capable of publishing photos . I have documentation with me but it is confidential from my side.

The problem is not a geographical triangle as you pointed out. It is a human triangle.

I can second this. I estimate that we're in contact with 95% of all riders that pass through Colombia and those we don't see, we hear about through other riders.

So a photo and some details and I'll ask around!

http://i769.photobucket.com/albums/x...255_resize.jpg
this him?

Missing or hiding?
 

Missing
 

I feel like it is important to do not go toward a fear based about South American countries and if someone is missing / or doesn't want to be find it is important to first go the ambassy way and other local autority and then ask on this kind of site . As a traveller I met many riders on the road and forgot most of thier names but a face rarely , so without even knowing what a person look like it will be almost impossible to get any serious lead about anyone. When I read post like Missing or Hidding I start to have doubt about what is happening .
Really hope for the best but not all traveller want to keep in touch with family and friends , once on the road we sometime discover that been far from all is pretty good ( sorry if that hurt)

Hendi
PS: nothing personnal but I just want South America to do not catalog into very dangerous places

Alive and well
 

I also posted this over on ADV Rider...

John Persson is alive and well and 'living' in Colombia.

I met him yesterday and although he introduced himself as 'Phillipé' I knew it was him. Blue/White striped tank and Texas license plate on his 1150GS.

He was heading north after doing a 'visa run' to Ecuador (I met him between Cali & Popayan). He saw me and pulled over ''Because you look like you've got a story to tell'', so I told him my story and asked him his...''Oh, I'm just flleeing America'' he said.

Anyway, I think this is a personal, husband & wife thing that doesn't need to be here anymore.