Family of missing Idyllwild man hosts candlelight vigil at The Red Kettle

The family of Delfino Guadalupe Lopez Fajardo gathered to host a candlelight vigil in his honor.

'“He's a great, great person," said Fernando Lopez, his brother. "He's a hard worker. He has great family, and we want him back. This is very sad. This is very bad for our family and everybody misses him.”

In a social media post, his family posted the following announcement:

Dear neighbors and friends,

We are reaching out to invite you to join us for a candle light vigil in support of our missing family member Lupe. As we continue to search for answers and hold onto hope, we are grateful for the strength and compassion of our community.

Please join us on TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3 at 6 pm at Idyllwild town center (outside the red kettle) as we come together to light candles, share prayers and thoughts, and show our support for our beloved Lupe and his family. Your presence and support mean the world to us during this difficult time.

Together, we can stand as a beacon of hope and solidarity for our family as we navigate this emotional journey. Your presence and support are deeply appreciated.

Thank you for standing with us during this difficult time.

Sincerely,
Lopez family.

During the vigil, his family member shared memories of "Lupe", as they called him, held a moment of silence, and prayed for his return.

"When me and my mom first came here to the United States, he was the one that gave us a handout let us stay at his house," said Fernando, his Nephew. "Since he was cooking, we never had to pay for a meal, because he'd be like, 'Oh, I brought you guys breakfast. I brought you guys lunch, dinner.' So he was always looking out for just his family, because there's a lot of us. We just want to see him safe and back with his family."

Lopez disappeared on his way home after visiting his sister at a hospital in Palm Desert. She had recently suffered a stroke.

According to his family, Lopez was last seen at around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15 near Highway 74 at the Santa Rosa Pit Stop gas station near Mountain Center. He allegedly got into an altercation with a man at the truck stop, before he ran off into the woods. His truck was found abandoned and ransacked.

Lopez is described as five feet, seven inches tall, weighing approximately 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt and gray sweat shorts.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Office has released limited information on Lopez Fajardo's disappearance.

If you have any information, you are urged to call Sheriff's Dispatch at 800-950-2444.