BELEN, NM — A family is asking for help after they say their Marine veteran son from China Spring went missing in New Mexico.
The Valencia County Sheriff's Office shared on their Facebook page that 32-year-old Matthew Gurule was last seen leaving the Ysleta Casino in Belen, New Mexico, on Saturday, July 27.
When Central Texas News Now spoke with Gurule's mother, Sandra Miller, she explained Gurule called her, just minutes before leaving the casino saying he had gotten sick.
"I asked him, "Why, why are you out if you're sick?" and he said, he said "I'm not sick. It's just my nerves," and so I said "Just go home," and that was it" said Miller. That was the last time they spoke.
Late Saturday morning Gurule's Honda Accord was found torched on the side of the road in Valencia County.
Miller explained, as soon as Gurule's newly paid-off car was found set on fire, she knew something was not right, and immediately boarded a plane for Albuquerque.
Now the Gurule family and past military comrades are searching the area where his phone last pinged, said Miller.
Gurule was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and brown pants. He is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 190 pounds, with black hair and dark brown eyes. He has a black swan tattooed on his left forearm, a badger holding a gun tattooed on his right upper arm, and an Army person stabbing another person tattooed on the inner part of his upper left arm.
Gurule is a Marine combat veteran and may need medical attention.
Miller explained Gurule had found a job he loved and had just paid his vehicle off.
In closing Gurule's mother told Central Texas News Now, "I hope really, I hope someone is holding him against his will and somebody comes forward, but I hope for closure, one way or the other, this is just ridiculous. I just hope that if he's alive he will get home soon."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Belton Police Department at 505-966-2680.
