Newton police seek help in finding missing Boston College student

.
By Globe Staff

Newton police are seeking the public's help in their search for a 21-year-old Boston College student who was last seen early Wednesday inside a bar near Cleveland Circle.

Franco Garcia, 21, an evening student at BC who lives in West Newton, was last seen Wednesday at about 12:15 a.m. inside Mary Ann’s bar, police said. The bar, located at 1937 Beacon St. in Brighton, is near the BC campus.

Since that time, Garcia has not attended classes or shown up for work in Waltham, police said. His vehicle remained at Boston College, where he parked it Tuesday.

"His family and friends state that it is highly unusual for him not to contact anyone for this amount of time," police said in a release Friday night. He was last seen wearing a long-sleeved white and blue striped shirt and jeans.

"I hear from people who know him that he is a terrific young man from a very close knit family," university spokesman Jack Dunn. "Our prayers as a community go out to his family as we pray for a successful resolution to this search."

Friends of Garcia have set up a Facebook page about his disappearance.

“He’s our friend and we want him to get home safe,” said Amelia Zani, a BC sophomore who was helping to spread the word.

Zani said Garcia is a member of the Boston College marching band and the Boston College symphonic band, serving on its executive board.

“He’s very involved in music. He’s a chemistry major and he’s just very very kind, welcoming," she said. "We both play clarinet in the symphonic band. He’s just a really great guy.”

Students are meeting on campus at 1 p.m. Saturday to distribute fliers about his disappearance, according to the Facebook page.

"He is a local student who contributes so much to his school community and the more people who are looking out for him the better," Zani said.

Anyone having any information is urged to contact the Newton Police Department at 617-796-2100 or the Detective Division at 617-796-2104.