American traveler Ian Treger disappears while visiting Peru as a family pleads for help
A Virginia man disappeared while hiking in the historic Andes mountains in Peru and has not been heard from for more than a month, prompting an intense search in the desert, his family said.
Ian Treger, a 29-year-old from Lexington, Va., last spoke to his family while traveling in the Peruvian city of Cusco on May 13, his mother Michelle Ludwig wrote on GoFundMe.
He had arrived in the South American country on May 11 for a 10-day trip and was staying at an Airbnb while not setting foot on “very dangerous” mountain trails, family friend Donna Welch told WDBJ.
Welch recalled that Treger was last seen on surveillance footage leaving his Airbnb.
Treger – an English teacher in Latin America – was reported missing, according to a missing persons report issued by the Peruvian national police on June 2.
Investigators were unsuccessful in their search for Treger as they did not know what trail was among the many missing tourists, according to the source.
Police in the Cusco region launched a massive search for Treger, including helicopter crews and ground teams with High Mountain Rescue Units, according to Peruvian newspaper Andina.
Local police officers had a difficult time in their search as Treger’s phone was switched off.
“We don’t have reliable information about where the visitor has gone, and that makes things difficult for us,” a police spokesperson told reporters as they tried to trace Treger’s phone location. “All of a sudden it’s turned off, making geolocation even more difficult.”
Peruvian officials appeared to be limiting their efforts to two sites, Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain and the Choquequirao archaeological park, in southern Peru.
Treger is described as 5-foot-10, with a medium build and two fish tattoos on his right calf.
“Please help me fund private search and rescue efforts. The area is huge and there are dangers around every corner,” Ludwig wrote.
The shocked mother shared maps of the fundraising route showing large swaths of the world through “dangerous slopes” and “dangerous canyons.”
“Everyone who knows or has met Ian enjoys his laugh, appreciates his love of life, is fascinated by his many travel stories, and will never forget his beautiful smile and blue eyes,” Ludwig said.
Ludwig has traveled to Peru and is working with the American Embassy to help locate his son, who has been missing for several weeks.
“The Trump administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of the American people, and the U.S. Embassy in Peru has been closely involved since Mr. Treger’s disappearance was reported. We will refer Peruvian law enforcement for inquiries regarding their search effort,” a State Department spokesperson told WDBJ.
Peruvian officials found Treger’s laptop at Airbnb and are returning it to the US, hoping it has information on his whereabouts.
“We just love Ian and we’re very concerned about what happened to Ian because it’s not like he’s not in touch with his family and we’re very concerned,” Welch said.
