“My heart is broken in two”

Saturday marks one month since 12-year-old Maria Gomez-Perez disappeared from her Gainesville home.

His father, Andres Gomez, spoke to Courtney Francisco, Channel 2 Action News reporter Saturday in hopes that his little girl could somehow hear his words.

He spoke in Spanish and said his heart was broken in two.

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He said he sees her pink bike sitting on the porch every day. She drove him with neighborhood friends almost every evening.

He said he waited for her day after day. Her whole family misses her. Her friends miss her too.

Art Gallegos, Jr., is a leader in Hall County's Latino community. He helped interpret for Gomez.

“We think she’s out there,” Gallegos said.

He said she immigrated to the United States from Guatemala to live with her father about five or six years ago. She was a student at Lyman Elementary School.

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“It’s about a missing girl who could be my daughter. It could be your daughter, your niece,” Gallegos said.

The Hall County Sheriff's Office said investigators followed sightings and possible leads in South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Illinois and Maryland. Gallegos said family in Guatemala was also searching for the man.

“We are not losing faith. We’re going to keep looking for her, posting her photo, until we have an answer,” Gallegos said.

Around Gainesville, you'll notice his missing signs outside businesses, on billboards and banners. Traffic signs flash at popular intersections, asking anyone with information to call deputies.

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Last week, donors announced a $50,000 reward for his safe return. Deputies said that prompted dozens of tips, but none led to his location.

With Gallegos' interpretation, her father said he wanted his little girl to know that they had a lot of support and that she should not lose hope.

“I feel like the community is helping me, I feel very encouraged,” Gomez said.

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