Judicial agents are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing U.S. citizen identified as Brian Kendall Bank, according to the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ).

Officials said Bank, 43, was reported missing on Monday, May 11. He was last seen several days earlier, on Wednesday, May 6, in a public area near Jacó Beach, in Garabito canton, Puntarenas province.

Authorities did not immediately publicize the missing-person case after the report was filed. Investigators said such delays are common because officials often pursue initial leads before requesting public assistance. Those early efforts yielded limited results, prompting authorities to release information about the case.

The U.S. Department of State and U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide handle more than 200,000 welfare and whereabouts inquiries each year, according to information published by the embassy.

Individuals seeking help locating a U.S. citizen overseas are encouraged to provide as much information as possible, including the caller’s full name, address, telephone number and relationship to the individual; the missing person’s name, date and place of birth; passport number, if available; last known address and phone number; reason for travel or residence abroad; travel itinerary; date of last contact; and additional points of contact, such as friends, business associates or hotels.

The U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica provides in-person assistance at its facilities in Pavas, in San José. Assistance is also available by email at ACSSanJose@state.gov or by telephone at +(506) 2519-2000.

The OIJ, a branch of Costa Rica’s Supreme Court of Justice, is responsible for conducting criminal investigations nationwide.

A.M. Costa Rica encouraged readers to share the missing-person alert within their communities.

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What have you heard about unsolved cases involving missing U.S. citizens in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com