Texas Family Goes Missing While Researching in Mexico

A Texas family is desperate for answers after their loved ones vanish in a region notorious for violence and crime—will they ever see them again?

At a Glance

  • Frank Guzman and Caroline Katba disappeared in Mexico while traveling for research.
  • Their last contact was July 22 in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz.
  • Repeated efforts to engage international authorities are ongoing.
  • The couple drove a gray 2016 Toyota Prius-Hatchback.

A Journey Takes a Dark Turn

What began as a routine research trip has turned into a nightmare for one Texas family. Frank Guzman, a University of Texas PhD student, and his wife, Caroline Katba, disappeared without a trace. The couple last made contact on July 22 in Coatzacoalcos, a Mexican area plagued by crime. Their absence became evident when Frank failed to show up for class at UT Austin, triggering alarms.

The couple was en route to Chile for a research project initiated by Frank. They were last known to drive a gray 2016 Toyota Prius-Hatchback 4-door. Initial efforts led by family members urged the community to share their story and assist in locating the missing couple, adding layers of urgency to a case that grows colder by the day.

Growing Concerns and Delays

Despite comprehensive planning and steadfast communication, Frank and Caroline’s last WhatsApp message was sent on July 22. With mounting concern, Frank’s sister, Liz Guzman, reached out to the U.S. Embassy and the FBI. Unfortunately, the FBI’s involvement is limited to sending photos to the Mexican consulate. The absence of more robust actions only intensifies fears among family and friends.

“Now it’s getting to the point where you’re thinking about the bad scenarios, right?” Frank Guzman’s friend Nestor Rincon told KVUE. “Now, there’s this question of, you know, ‘Are there going to be any more memories to make? Or is this what we have left?’”

The search for Frank and Caroline continues with mounting international pressure. The U.S. Embassy, Mexican authorities, and UT Austin are involved in locating the couple, but despite cooperation, significant leads are absent. Liz Guzman actively encourages public awareness through social media, emphasizing the couple’s last known location amid growing desperation.

Frank had invested over a decade in his academic career. “My brother has completed 12 years of effort into this degree; he wouldn’t just leave it,” Liz stated movingly, exposing the depth of this tragedy’s potential impact. The echoes of her pleas resonate as efforts to solve this heart-wrenching mystery continue.

With no new leads, the inevitability of tragic outcomes looms ominously over family and friends. The remembrance of happier times and the uncertainty of future ones hangs in the balance as the international community and local authorities continue chasing even the faintest of trails.

We’re sure our readers will join us in praying for their safety…

But while we’re on the topic, let’s just remember that the world is not full of countries like the United States. Not all countries and cultures are the same, and while Mexico is certainly a wonderful country in many ways, it is riddled with the kind of crime we’re not used to here in the United States. That’s just a reality.