The family of a missing Winnipeg man is still desperate for answers one year after his disappearance.
Eduardo Balaquit was last seen June 4, 2018, when he left home for his cleaning job at a building on Keewatin Street. Hours later, his van was found behind the building but the vehicle was not parked in its usual spot and a window was smashed.
“It doesn’t get any easier,” Eduardo’s son Edaward said. “If anything it gets harder.”
In the days that followed Eduardo’s disappearance, Edward, family members and friends spent countless hours combing ditches and fields.
By the end of July, Edward had to spend his wedding day without his father.
“We had his suit ready, his shoes, just in case he made a last minute appearance so he could be ready for everything,” Edward said. “We had a photo of him in the reception and wedding just so everyone would remember he had a place there.”
Edward said birthdays have also been tough. April 9 was his dad’s 60th birthday, which the family still celebrated with a cake.
“Mentally it’s been difficult on all of us,” Edward said. “I’d say my mom has it the worst.”
Edward said police are in touch with his family on a weekly basis, but he said those phone calls are just reminders that the case is still being worked on.
He said he is staying positive that his father could still be alive.
“There’s always going to be hope. If there’s no information saying otherwise, there’s going to be that hope.”
Sgt. Wade McDonald spoke to media Tuesday.
“While we have made some progress, we are in need of further information,” he said.
McDonald said they are searching for a 2010-2015 blue Ford Escape SE in relation to the investigation, saying the car was in the area when Balaquit disappeared and in Arborg, Man. afterwards, where searchers have concentrated their search.
“We’ve utilized all our resources available to us… viewed hours of surveillance video … we beleive that this time is the right time to release a picture of the vehicle.”
Police said they have a reason they’re searching the Arborg area, but wouldn’t elaborate.
The release of photos of two people who were persons of interest did help, said McDonald. The people were identified and spoken to, he said, adding they are not suspects.
“Their information now is part of the investigation.”
Edward also spoke to media Tuesday at the press conference, and said the family is coping by being with each other.
“My dad was our strength, so we have to be our strength together for my dad,” he said.
“Things don’t get better. We still want him home … until we find out where he is, what happened, that’s when things will get better.”
WATCH BELOW: Joe Scarpelli reports in June 2018, after the homicide unit was called to investigate the disappearance of Eduardo Balaquit.