EXCLUSIVE: Argentinian mother makes plea for missing Rod Falcon to come home one year on since he vanished
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The family of missing man Rodrigo Falcón has issued an emotional plea one year on from his disappearance in Aviemore saying they 'want Rod to come home' and that they will never stop looking for him.
This Monday (December 11) will mark the first anniversary of the last sighting of the popular 33-year-old Argentinian who had made the village his home.
Related articles:
Aviemore rallies round to try and find missing man Rod Falcon
Private investigators join the search for missing Rod Falcon
The last image of Rod was captured just before 3am that day on CCTV cameras at the bottom of Grampian Road as he strode south – the opposite direction to where he had been living at Dalfaber – in freezing cold weather.
Nothing has been seen nor heard of him since despite extensive efforts by police, friends and the wider local community to find him in the weeks and months that followed.
Now his mother, Daniela, has renewed her appeal for information on her 'very good son' from her homeland, having made the long trip to the strath for a second time at the end of October.
She said she hopes no-one else ever has to endure such heartache.
Daniela said: "A year after his disappearance, unfortunately we still have no answers nor do we know anything about his fate. We are also still waiting for the investigation report we have requested from Police Scotland.
"His friends, colleagues and his entire family continues working to find out what happened on December 11, 2022, at the exit of The Vault nightclub in Aviemore and what Rod's fate was.
"I want to thank the community of Aviemore for the work they did to try to find Rod the days after he disappeared; the local police and the tracking teams who worked in the area searching for any information that would bring us closer to the truth.
"Also the divers who participated in the searches and the group of investigators who are currently following the case.
"And a special thank you to his friends who continue to be alert and working to find answers.
"Rodrigo is a very good person, a very good son, and a very good friend of his friends. He is super sociable, kind and very docile and hard-working.
"He loves good food, good wine and is passionate about travel and photography.
"Rodrigo left Latin America in search of a better future. After working and touring different countries, he arrived in Scotland and fell in love with the Highlands. He has lived there since 2016.
"We want Rod to come home and we will not stop looking for him!
"If you know anything about him, if you have any information about what happened that night or any clue – no matter how small it may seem – it is huge for us, and I ask you to forward it to us.
"You can do this also anonymously if you prefer.
"I appreciate it very much as a mother and I wish, with all my heart, that no-one else has to go through such a painful situation."
A private firm Impartial Investigations continues to look into Rod's disappearance and hopes the one-year anniversary could spark some new information.
A spokesman said: "As there have been no concrete developments in the last while from our point of view, we hope that the anniversary of Rod's disappearance will bring more awareness of the ongoing search for him and that it will bring in some potential leads.
"We did meet with Rod's parents recently when they came over from Argentina and, understandably, they are as determined as ever to try and bring the mystery to an end."
The very last reported sighting of Road was at 3.10am at the Kinakyle cliffs on the B9152 just south of the village.
Friend Katie Jachacy, who runs the Pine Marten Bar + Scran where Rod worked, said: "One hope is that motorists living outwith the area who were travelling on the A9 and the B9152 around the time of his disappearance may come forward with more dash cam footage and crucial information if they pick up on the appeal."
An appeal has also been launched on social media for the one-year anniversary and anyone with information is urged to get in touch by voicemail 0800 887 0111, text 0745 644 100 or by emailing rod@mm.st .
All information will be treated confidentially.
Life and soul of the party
The much loved Argentinian was described by friends and workmates as the 'life and soul of the party'.
He was last seen by friends at around 2am on Sunday, December 11, 2022 at the Vault nightclub but for some reason yet to be explained left the venue without his brown woollen fox style coat – and his mobile phone – despite the freezing temperature.
Rod is described as 5ft 6” tall, with a tanned complexion, mullet hairstyle, a moustache and beard, and was wearing a red jumper and baggy jeans.
In the days that followed, friends devoted huge amounts of time retracing his steps from the centre of Aviemore, scouring the local streets and properties, checking outbuildings and asking for information.
Local businesses gave their workers time off to join in with the search whilst other establishments opened their doors to provide free food and a hot drink for those who turned-out.
Police Scotland's dive and marine unit later concentrated on the River Spey by Aviemore and Loch Alvie, south of the village, as part of the search.
And yet no light has been shed on the mystery in an entire year.
Police Scotland can also be contacted with information by calling 101 or at https://www.scotland.police.uk/secureforms/contact/
