" Our brother Maurizio has disappeared into thin air, help us find him ." There is a lot of concern in the words of his sister Manuela, 44, and his brother Marcello, 49. The family has had no news of 48-year-old Maurizio, known to all as Mauro, since February 24: "He was supposed to take a plane from London, where he lives and works as a cook, to visit our 86-year-old mother who underwent heart surgery." The desperate requests for help launched by the family on social media have not yet had the desired effect: "There is no trace of him." After reporting him missing to the English and Italian police, the case also landed on Rai3's TV show "Chi l'ha visto ."
"Only one thing is certain, Maurizio did not leave the United Kingdom even though he was in a hurry to return to Sardinia to be with his mother ," say the brothers.
Maurizio's family lives in Assemini, where he studied and started working as a young man. Then around 2003 he decided to leave, together with two friends, for London, where he has lived for twenty years interspersed with periods in Sardinia: «Since 2016 - his sister said - he has lived and worked at the "Three Falcons Hotel & Pub" in Marylebone, where he spent the Covid period. Until a few months ago he was the chef of the Indian restaurant. Since September he has been working in the pub "The Knight of Notting Hill" always in the same restaurant chain». Maurizio, always very busy with work, entertains himself by watching the matches of his favorite teams, Cagliari and Inter: «He connects via video call with my son and they watch the match together», says Manuela. To facilitate the search he was described as «about 1.60 meters tall, black hair with graying, brown eyes and with a spot on one cheekbone».
In the images taken from the video surveillance of London's Stansted airport , he was wearing jeans and a burgundy hooded jacket: «He was unable to bring forward the direct flight London-Cagliari for Sunday 23, the day he arrived at the airport», continue the brothers of the missing man. «The last image that immortalized him is from February 24, at 6.20 in the morning, while he was leaving the airport on foot». After nothing: «He does not have his cell phone or suitcase with him, found by the police in the airport waiting room, we do not know if he has documents. The luggage was large, he would have stayed at least two weeks in Assemini. Initially I thought he had lost his phone. But at the airport an announcement was made to which he did not show up. I sent an email to his employer to ask him to call me back. Nothing», say the brothers. Investigations The London police are currently investigating to understand whether Maurizio left on foot, by public transport or asked for a lift.
The suitcase and phone are kept at the airport and the Italian consulate in London is also aware of everything: "They are checking the latest bank movements and the list of calls and contacting the hospitals". No lead is being ruled out : voluntary departure, illness, accident or worse. The latest clues linked to him are a small cash withdrawal at the airport, a £30 top-up on his phone, he probably arrived at the airport by train. The appeal "We are devastated, it all seems so absurd to me", concludes Manuela, before turning to her brother: "Going back I wouldn't tell you that mum wasn't feeling well. I know you really wanted to say goodbye and that you were afraid of never seeing her again. Now mum is fine, she's been discharged, if you surprise her you won't put her in danger. Come back soon, we love you". An appeal also to anyone who has seen Maurizio or has information about him: " Call 3409835462 or contact the police or the Consulate ".