‘Missing’ Jackson County legislator attends meeting virtually

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - In the heat of what other county legislators claim is a “personal matter,” Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca attended a Monday meeting virtually.

A missing persons report has been filed for Abarca and his two-year-old son, Luca.

Abarca told KCTV5 he would speak to us, but never returned calls, texts, or emails.

The father of two attended a county legislature meeting Monday afternoon virtually, where he led the pledge of allegiance and laughed at jokes made throughout.

KCTV spoke with legislator Sean Smith, who claimed he had no idea about Abarca’s disappearance. Smith said he saw Abarca in a meeting on Friday also virtually.

“He seemed normal. I didn’t know anything was happening,” he said. “He asked questions or answered questions I should say that constituents asked. Seemed fine.”

Smith said he was out of town on vacation, but still attended meetings virtually.

“Curious, just wondering what’s going on,” he said. “I just hope everything is OK and am confident this will work itself out.”

The Shawnee Police Department filed the report with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which shows individual reports for both Abarca and his son.

KCTV5 spoke with Abarca’s wife, Alexis, after seeing a post from her on Facebook, claiming that Abarca and their son were missing. She told KCTV she last saw her son five days ago, on Wednesday, May 28, and last saw Abarca the following day, Thursday, May 29.

She says they were last together at Abarca’s father’s house in Shawnee, where they had met to switch vehicles. She then told KCTV5 some sort of incident happened and police were called.

KCTV5 went to the home where no one answered the door, but neighbors said police were there on Sunday.

After learning of the missing persons reports, KCTV5 reached out to Abarca via email, and he responded with a written statement:

“It has come to my attention that a ‘missing persons’ report has been filed erroneously concerning my son and me. Please rest assured we are not missing and we are both safe and healthy.”

After KCTV5 requested an interview with Abarca, he responded: “Thanks for reaching out, it has obviously been an unexpected evening. Happy to chat as soon as I am safe and able. For now, if you can coordinate with [my legislative aide] Monica [Bravo] we will make something happen.”

The Shawnee Police Department confirmed to KCTV5 Monday morning that a missing persons report has been filed and is currently under “active investigation.”

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