Elsa Maria Vargas Valerin, known as Chela, was last seen in the late morning of May 1, 2018, at her home in Châteauguay, Quebec. A friend reported her missing on May 3 after finding the front door unlocked and pets she had been caring for unattended for a couple of days — behavior described as out of character for someone known to be responsible and gentle. Her vehicle was still in the driveway, and a friend had said Elsa had expressed a desire to leave without naming a destination or timeline.

Police indicated they believed she left voluntarily based on witness statements and evidence at the home, but significant concerns remained. A missed FaceTime call from Elsa’s phone to her sister in Costa Rica occurred a few days after she was last seen, but a return call went unanswered. In the weeks after her disappearance there was no bank or credit card activity and her phone went unused. Elsa is five feet four inches tall, about 210 pounds, with dark hair and brown eyes, and spoke Spanish, French, and English.

Does anyone who knew Elsa in Châteauguay or saw her around May 1, 2018, have information that could help clarify what happened?