Question: Whatever happened to the case of Gilbert Caravallo, a Pearl City man who went missing seven years ago?
Answer:Wednesday was the seventh anniversary of Caravallo’s disappearance from his family’s life on Oct. 6, 2004.
"If I could go back seven years today and change the course of events … it’s absolutely bizarre to still be dealing with this," said his sister, Janey Lee Caravallo, who lives in California. "It’s just extreme. No one can ever imagine going through this unless you experience it firsthand."
Gilbert Caravallo lived with his mother, Paulette, in Pearl City. On the day he disappeared, his mother was cooking breakfast and he helped with the potatoes. She left for work, and that was the last time she saw her son, who was 35 years old at the time.
That afternoon, a friend came to the house, and the two walked to the store. Another friend picked the two of them up, and after going to the store they returned home. The first friend left Caravallo and the driver alone. That driver was among the last to see Caravallo.
When police at the time interviewed the driver, the driver initially said he did not see Caravallo. But he later said he dropped Caravallo off at his home.
Janey Caravallo has been asking police investigators to interview the driver again, since that has been the only lead and where the trail ends.
"Once my mother had reminded him that witnesses saw him with Gilbert, his story changed," she said.
Since then, Janey Caravallo has released a book about her brother’s disappearance, and a website, findgilbert.com, has been live, keeping vigil and hoping to gather more leads to the man’s disappearance.
He is described as being 6 feet tall, weighing 220 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and with two tattoos, "Gilbert C" on his back and a wizard on his upper right arm. He was last seen in the Aiea, Pearlridge and Pearl City area.
The family is now offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in Gilbert Caravallo’s disappearance.
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This update was compiled by Star-Advertiser reporter Gene Park. Suggest a topic for “Whatever Happened To …” by writing Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210, Honolulu 96813; call 529-4747; or email cityeditors@staradvertiser.com.
