Friends, family and members of the Latino community gathered in Raleigh for a vigil in honor of Jefferson Fernández Pineda, a young Honduran man missing since July 4 in Kure Beach, North Carolina.
Denis Chávez, Jefferson's uncle, explained that the vigil had the objective of "crying out to God and asking the authorities to touch our hearts and help us in the search."
The Fernández Pineda family maintains the hope to recover Jefferson's body or find him alive.
“Our family's wish is to find him alive,” Chávez told Enlace Latino NC . “My sister is confident that her son will be found alive, but we do not have the necessary means to carry out the search.”
Chávez also recalled during the vigil that Jefferson dreamed of coming to the United States to work and that he was passionate about soccer.
"He used to tell me, 'Man, I know I'm going to get there because I want to be with you.' Despite everything, we continue to hope to see him again,” he said.
Vigil for Jefferson Fernández: support from the Latino community
Members of the Latino community gathered at the evening to provide support to the Fernández Pineda family, highlighting solidarity and hope in times of adversity.
The event featured the participation of local leaders, including chaplains and Pastor Gaudencio Villasana.
“We unite in pain, but we unite in hope,” said Pastor Villasana. “We belong to the Latino community and we are here to serve.”
Carmen Rodríguez, community organizer for Justicia y Esperanza, stressed that the event served as a meeting point to offer moral support and hope to the Fernández Pineda family.
Jefferson emigrated to the United States in March 2023 in search of a better future, highlighted Rodríguez, who has helped the family during this process.
“We all emigrated to the United States in search of a dream,” Rodríguez told Enlace Latino NC . “The message for our community is one of togetherness, hope, solidarity and empathy.”
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Carmen Rodríguez, a community organizer with Justice and Hope, stands with her back turned wearing a shirt that reads "without unity there is no revolution" at the vigil on Friday, July 26, 2024 / ELNC 
Pastor Gaudencio Villasana (right) attended the vigil with other chaplains and leaders of the Christian church on Friday, July 26, 2024. / ELNC 
Carmen Rodríguez began the vigil in honor of Jefferson on Friday, July 26, 2024. / ELNC 
Pastor Gaudencio Villasana (left) and Denis Chávez (right) talk before the vigil in honor of Jefferson begins on Friday, July 26, 2024. / ELNC
Disappearance after being swept away by a wave
On Independence Day, 21-year-old Jefferson had traveled from Raleigh to the Kure Beach, located 20 minutes from Wilmington.
He was accompanied by his partner, Jenny Ramírez, who is pregnant, and a group of friends to enjoy the Día de la Independencia.
While on the beach, Jefferson was swept away by a wave and called for help. One of his friends tried to hold on to him, but had to let go for fear of drowning, Chávez explained.
“People who were on a dock saw him calling for help and called 911,” Chávez said. “Unfortunately, there were no rescuers in the area, and help was slow to arrive.”
Since then, Fernández Pineda's relatives in Honduras and the United States have had no news about the young man.
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Search for Jefferson ends unsuccessfully ; demand action from the authorities
The search for Jefferson, which lasted 10 days, ended without success, generating growing frustration among his relatives. The young man's uncle expressed dissatisfaction with the response of local authorities during the search.
“I was in contact with Kure Beach firefighters who responded the first week, but they have been unresponsive since then,” Chavez said.
The authorities told them that they were searching another beach, but Chávez checked and did not see any search movements in the water.
"I ask the governor, who has the power to mobilize boats and helicopters for the search. He has the equipment to do it," Chávez demanded at the vigil.
Parents will be able to visit from Honduras
In the midst of desperation, Fernández Pineda's family in Honduras received positive news: a humanitarian visa which will allow them to stay a week in the United States.
“We know about the Gospel, and God has begun to work,” Chávez said. “My sister and her husband applied for a visa, and thank God, they were approved.”
Jefferson Pineda's family is waiting to receive the visa, a process that could take between 4 and 5 days. They are expected to arrive in the United States around August 5.
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