DAVIDSON, N.C. — There is a frantic search for a local Spanish teacher missing in Mexico.
Thousands of people are following a Facebook page to provide information about Patrick Braxton-Andrew. According to the Davidson College Alumni Facebook page, 34-year-old Braxton-Andrew disappeared on Sunday afternoon, after a walk in Urique, Mexico.
The page says U.S. and Mexican authorities are now involved in the major effort to find him.
Crews are searching the canyons that make up Copper Canyon national park in Mexico. Mexican officials say the area is known for violent conflicts involving cartels.
NBC Charlotte talked to people at local businesses and others walking by in downtown Davidson; some either know Braxton-Andrew or they know somebody who knows him. Now, All of them are rallying around the same cause.
Leigh-Ann Mueller says she doesn’t know Braxton-Andrew personally, but she has a lot of mutual friends with him.
“Davidson is such a small town community that when one of our own has something going on, whether you know that person or not, the whole town tends to rally around that person,” Mueller said.
Many more are also showing support for Braxton-Andrew on social media. A Facebook page dedicated to providing information about the search for him has more than 2,300 followers, as of Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Davidson College Alumni Facebook has shared updates about what happened. Braxton-Andrew was a 2006 graduate of Davidson College, according to the alumni page.
The page also shared information from his father about the search. He described how Braxton-Andrew went missing in Urique, Mexico after going on a walk Sunday afternoon.
“My immediate thought was I can’t imagine the hopelessness that his family, his friends and his parents must be feeling,” Mueller said.
Braxton-Andrew is an eighth grade Spanish teacher at Woodlawn School in Mooresville, according to the school’s website. On Facebook, one person posted “Patrick’s mentoring, patience, and support has been invaluable to our family."
Now, those on social media and elsewhere are hoping for a positive outcome to the search.
U.S. State Department officials also confirmed to NBC Charlotte they are aware of the situation in Mexico. Officials say they will provide any assistance needed, but they did not want to comment further because of privacy considerations.
