PROVO — Police in Provo have sent an investigator to Mexico and given lie detector tests to some family members, but still have little information about what happened to a Provo woman who disappeared three months ago.
Elizabeth Elena Laguna-Salgado, 26, had been studying at the Nomen Global Language School for a few months when she disappeared on April 16 following classes.
Provo police said they do not have any suspects or persons of interest in the case.
“It’s a labor-intensive case, and we’re still getting tips that we’re investigating,” said Provo Police Lt. Brandon Post. “We still have other individuals that we’re interviewing and investigating.”
Police said she either left willingly or was taken against her will.
“And within those broad possibilities, there are multiple scenarios," Post said.
The lack of information and answers has sparked rumors and accusations on social media about the case. But Provo police have not commented on the rumors.
“The community involvement in this case has been impressive,” Post said. “We have not made comments (on the rumors) because we didn’t want it to be construed as unwarranted rebukes on either the family or the community.”
Recently, Provo police have excluded two of Elizabeth Salgado’s uncles — Rudemberth and Rosemberg Salgado — from their weekly police briefings with family members on the investigation.
“Our investigation has encountered some incongruences,” Post said. “And until we can reconcile those, the uncles are not invited back into the family meetings.”
Post would not elaborate but said the exclusion does not imply any wrongdoing.
“I don’t know what inconsistencies they (Provo police) are talking about,” said Rosemberg Salgado. “I would have to hear it from them.”
Police confirmed they administered lie detector tests weeks ago to Rudemberth and Rosemberg Salgado, but they have declined to discuss the results.
“Polygraphs are excellent investigative tools,” Post said. “However, the results cannot be relied upon as absolutes.”
Both uncles insist they have nothing to hide and simply want to find their niece.
“We have absolutely nothing to do with my niece’s disappearance,” said Rosemberg Salgado. “What’s important here is to find my niece Elizabeth Elena.”
“I don’t know where she is, my niece. We have nothing to do with this,” added Rudemberth Salgado. “We are not going to stop until we find her.”
Elizabeth Salgado’s family rejects the theory that she just took off without telling them.
“She would never do that. She is very close to our family,” said Rosemberg Salgado. “That’s why we believe she is in a very dangerous situation.”
Investigators said it is not unusual for adults to decide to abandon their lives without notifying those closest to them. But there's nothing to indicate that has occurred.
Post said Delgado "spent most of her life between her apartment, the school, and work. Any technology — cellphone activity we had — all had her within that area, so there’s nothing unusual that would lead us into any particular direction.”
Investigators are not limiting their search to Provo.
“One of our detectives has gone down to Chiapas, Mexico, and is working with investigators and the FBI,” Post said, “to follow up and get background information on both Elizabeth and the family and see if we can find out as much as we can.”
Email: niyamba@deseretnews.com