PANAMA CITY BEACH — Reny Jose went missing during Spring Break last year.
His family, loved ones, the Baltimore Guardian Angels and others have not forgotten. A candlelight vigil was held Saturday to spread awareness of Jose’s disappearance.
“One year is like 10 years for me,” said Sherly Jose, Reny’s mother.
Jose disappeared March 3, 2014. Before the vigil on the beach off Front Beach Road, Sherly said she felt sad and wished she could find her son.
She hoped the vigil would reignite attention and awareness. The Jose family is from Albany, N.Y., and traveled to Panama City Beach for the gathering.
Reny, a 21-year-old mechanical engineering student at Rice University in Houston, rented a house with friends in Panama City Beach last year.
The Jose family said he was accompanied by 22 friends from college, but 18 of them left immediately before law enforcement learned of the disappearance. Police and the Jose family searched for Reny in the weeks after his disappearance, including vacant buildings in the area.
The Guardian Angels and family friends held signs Saturday in remembrance of Reny. Marcus Dent, who goes by the Guardian Angels code name “Strider” and is commander of the Baltimore Guardian Angels chapter, said Reny brought everyone at the vigil together. He asked them to keep the Jose family in their prayers.
Dent first met the Jose family in Albany at a conference on missing people. For anyone with a missing loved one, the family waits for that person to return, Dent said.
“This vigil is for Reny Jose,” Dent said.
Laurence and Jeanne Lehman of Jacksonville know what it’s like to wait for a loved one to return. They have worked with the Guardian Angels’ Baltimore chapter to raise awareness about their daughter, who disappeared in Baltimore last December.
The case was upgraded to homicide/missing status after the Guardian Angels helped publicize her case.
Laurence said they came out Saturday to support the Jose family. He added that there is a chance to find Reny.
“We understand how hard it is,” Jeanne said.
At 11:30 a.m. Sunday the group will bring their awareness campaign to the intersection of Thomas Drive and U.S. 98 to catch motorists’ attention.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office still is investigating, but there have been no updates.
Chevina Jackson, BCSO’s victim advocate, said she has been working with the Jose family. This weekend’s vigil might prod someone’s memory of Reny, she said.
After Saturday’s gathering, Jose George, Reny’s father, said he was sad and wished he could bring Reny home. Something in his heart said his son is still around.
George described his Reny as a loving, intelligent and very helpful young man who would do anything for his family and friends. Reny was due to graduate with a 4.0 GPA, George said.
“Reny was an excellent kid.”