“He was under no legal obligation to do any of those things, and his cooperation was not compelled in any manner,” said Hermiston Police Department Chief Jason Edminston.
Edminston also clarified why an arrest has not been made in Graciela’s case.
“In order to make an arrest and hold somebody in jail, we need to establish probable cause. Legally, probable cause is defined as a substantial, objective basis to believe that, more likely than not, a crime has been committed and the person to be arrested has committed that crime. We have not been able to establish this as of yet. The standard for conviction in a criminal case is even higher,” he explained.
So, despite the fact that foul play is suspected in Graciela’s case, the exact circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain unclear, and her case is still unsolved.
Her loved ones have since created a Facebook page entitled Find Graciela Garcia to raise awareness about her disappearance. They also launched a GoFundMe campaign, expressing disappointment in the progress police have made in solving Graciela’s case.
“Police have stated her disappearance is suspicious. However, they have not been able to solve the case or give the family enough information. The family is seeking help in hiring a lawyer and a private investigator to help with the investigation in hopes of bringing Graciela back to her family. Anything is appreciated,” the campaign reads.
Her daughter, Gabby, also believes someone in the community has more information.
“Somebody out there saw something. They had to. We just hope someone will come forward and say something,” she stated.
Graciela is five foot four, weighs 140 pounds, and had blonde hair at the time of her disappearance.
If you have any information regarding her case, you are urged to contact the Hermiston Police Department at (541) 567-5519.
