Costa Rican judicial agents are asking the public for help locating a missing U.S. citizen identified as Hazkel Caleb Brown-Christine, according to the Judicial Investigation Organization, known as the OIJ.

Brown-Christine, 20, was reported missing Monday, Sept. 14, officials said. He was last seen several days earlier, on Thursday, Sept. 10, in a public area near the town of Suretka in Bratsi District, Talamanca Canton, Limón Province.

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

Officials have not disclosed additional details because the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities said only Brown-Christine’s immediate family members may request further information about the case.

The OIJ is urging anyone who may have information that could help locate Brown-Christine to contact investigators. Tips can be submitted confidentially through the agency’s 10-digit hotline at 800-8000-645 or through WhatsApp at 8800-0645.

The U.S. Department of State says its personnel assist in locating U.S. citizens overseas when relatives or friends are concerned about their welfare or need to notify them of emergencies at home.

U.S. embassies and consulates around the world handle more than 200,000 welfare and whereabouts inquiries each year, according to information published on the Travel.State.gov website.

People seeking assistance in locating a U.S. citizen abroad are encouraged to provide as much information as possible. This includes the caller’s full name, address, phone number and relationship to the person abroad; the person’s name; date and place of birth; passport number, if known; last known address and phone number; reason for traveling or living abroad; travel itinerary; date of last contact; and other possible 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, San José. Assistance is also available by email at ACSSanJose@state.gov or by phone at +(506) 2519-2000. Callers in the United States can reach the embassy at 011-506-2519-2000.

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

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

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

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