Police Will Return to Reservoir Friday to Continue Search for Missing Student

As snow started to cover Greater Boston this afternoon, police decided to suspend their reservoir search for missing Boston College student Franco Garcia and resume operations on Friday.

According to Newton Police Capt. Paul Anastasia, State Police dive crews were back at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir today with both divers and a side-sonar scanning device. This is . 

In addition, Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) troopers helped search some select areas around the reservoir.

Around 3 p.m. today crews had to suspend the search as the snowstorm started to move in, Anastasia said. The State Police dive team and troopers from SERT will wait until Friday morning to finish their scan, as snow is forecasted for tomorrow. 

Garcia, 21, is a  senior, graduate and West Newton resident . He was last seen at Mary Ann's bar in Brighton (Cleveland Circle), just a short walk from the reservoir. 

According to Anastasia, who is commander for the Newton Police Detective Bureau, detectives also canvassed the Cleveland Circle area last night hoping to find information from regular Tuesday night patrons. Garcia was out with friends last Tuesday night before he went missing.

One of Garcia's friends and classmates, Joe Mahon, told Newton Patch earlier this week that Tuesday night is "senior night" at Mary Ann's bar. 

Detectives last night spoke with patrons and employees at Mary Ann's as well as City Side, another Cleveland Circle bar across the street from Mary Ann's.

However, Anastasia said detectives were not able to find any new information last night. 

Although the Newton Police Department is the lead investigating agency on the case, State Police have become involved because of the search of the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, which is state-owned land. In addition, Boston College and Boston Police are also helping out with the case.

Anastasia said detectives representing each of the four agencies have come together to form a small "task force" on the case. When a lead comes in, one of the detectives follows up depending on the jurisdiction of the lead.  

Anyone with information about Garcia's disappearance is asked to contact Newton Police at 617-796-2100 or Massachusetts State Police at 617-727-4812.

A Facebook group has been created to post updates on the search for Garcia. Friends have also started a Twitter account (@FindFranco) that hopes to spread the word of Garcia's disappearance.

BC students have also tried using social media to reach out to celebrities with local ties, hoping they will post information to their networks. Bruce Springsteen, whose son attends Boston College, posted information about Garcia on his Facebook page this afternoon. 

Rachele Reis and Amelia Zani, two of Garcia's friends and classmates, are also asking anyone who may have taken photos at Mary Ann's Tuesday night -- regardless of whether they know if Garcia is in them -- to send them to findfrancobc@gmail.com. Photos will remain private unless Garcia is spotted.

Looking for more stories and updates on Franco Garcia? Check out this page with complete coverage.