10 Apr 2010: MaxGian is back in school with a fantastic support network including his teacher, principle, and an excellent staff. After a short visit to the school on Monday, MaxGian made it clear he wanted to attend the next day. There was a very happy group of classmates waiting to welcome him back that first morning (Tuesday). Clearly his peers saved him a place in their class and in their hearts.  It was much more emotional for me as the first day back at school had been just a dream two weeks ago. Spending time helping out in his classroom was good therapy. His Spanish is fluent, and perhaps a little ahead of the others. His English will require some catching up! …all in good time…

 

With the support of North Boise Little League both he and his best friend Joe will be playing baseball this spring on the Pirates. The team Manager was kind enough to expand his team roster to support our late arrival. Opening day was Saturday (including pictures) and our first game is this next week. Wow!

 

We are still getting through appointments for the doctor, dentist, and counselor. Thus far he appears to be in good physical health. This weekend was active with his Grandma, Aunt & Uncle and two cousins visiting from out of the state. There is no shortage of love pouring in from family and friends.

 

Moving into our second week MaxGian and I will make more quiet time together. We have a strong father-son bond to re-explore, and a healing process to continue working through. He is a bright child and his extraordinary experiences have clearly had an impact. I certainly plan to learn more about his life the past 16 months. My single focus at this point is to create a very familiar and stable world for him, and to be observant and nimble enough to recognize and accommodate his needs. Just watching him sleep in his bed brings a flood of tears. It is very difficult not to just continuously smother him with a barrage of hugs and kisses. We will share plenty of those in the weeks, months, and years ahead.

 

Sincerely,

Marco

05 Apr 2010: On Tuesday, 30 March at 4pm I received a call from the Boise FBI Special Agent working our case. She said "Marco, this is Special Agent Martin, let's go get your son". I had known for 10 days there was a solid lead being worked by an overseas unit. By 9pm on the 30th I was on a flight to Managua, Nicaragua. At noon on the 31st, I arrived in Managua and was taken to the US Embassy with the FBI Legat for the region. Shortly following our arrival at the Embassy, I was taken to the Embassy Pool/Park to see MaxGian. The team at the embassy has been fantastic in caring for him.

Initially, he was surprised, confused, and distant. I knew it might be difficult, but I was determined to reconnect with him. After just over an hour of gently interacting, MaxGian took the initiative by putting on his swim trunks, encouraging me to follow him out to the pool. After a patented MaxGian flip into the pool, and my applause and encouragement, he flash a confident smile and I knew we had broken a major barrier. Shortly after this exchange he insisted I join him in the pool where we enjoyed some moments I will never forget. I was able to look into his smiling eyes and see the son I had lost. It brought me to tears when he took a quick break to the bathroom. It was really happening!!!

We spent the night in a hotel and were taken to the airport by Huguette and Rosa from the Embassy team. MaxGian had developed a special closeness with these two wonderful ladies. Our flight was direct to Miami. The connection options in Miami were not very good, and we didn't want to rush back, so we decided to spend the night in Miami. Again, we visited, enjoyed the pool, and went shopping for a Nintendo DSI (his special request). We were really communicating well and he began to ask about his best friend, Joe in Boise. He also asked about his room, bike, skateboard, school, etc. etc. etc.  He wanted to know if these things were still there for him. He clearly had not forgotten about them.

As we were about an hour out of Boise on Friday night, he became very excited on the plane. He said "Papa, is Joe really going to meet us at the airport". I said yes, Joe, his parents, and your uncle Vince will all be there. He smiled a spirited smile...one I had only seen in my mind's eye for the past 16 months. It was the moment where I realized how much he missed his home in Boise, and all that was taken from him. This realization brought more tears, and I had to take a deep breath to compose myself.

Upon arriving and rendezvousing with our greeting party, MaxGian ran up to Joe and gave him the first hug. It was pure life...and we caught it on tape. I watched my boy hug everyone and flash his wonderful smile. We were home!!! He was home!!! It was a joyous moment.

As we entered our neighborhood 20 minutes later, a very excited group of neighborhood children (and parents) awaited, having set out a huge line of luminaries to guide us. MaxGian looked out the windows on both sides of the car, smiling freely. It was all so amazing. I could not have dreamed of a more fulfilling arrival in Boise, and into our tightly knit neighborhood. The world was falling back into place. Later that evening he wanted to play with all his toys at once. He looked like a hungry kid in a candy shop. He also would not let his friend Joseph out of his sight. They were both in hog heaven.

The next morning his first wish was to ride his bike (in 38 degree weather). Racing up and down the street, smiling and saying "look at me Papa"...it was such a sight for sore eyes. Next, he ran into the garage and grabbed his baseball bat and ball. He instructed me to pitch and he ripped a number of line drives into the Cooley's yard across the street. Clearly, he had not lost his swing. After his uncle was called in to relief pitch (while I ran for some coffee) he quickly moved to the football, then the soccer ball, and finally to the basketball. I just had to stop and pinch myself as we watch this happy little guy running around the garage grabbing and playing with everything he could find. MaxGian's uncle Vince gave me a knowing wink as we both enjoyed the exuberance of our happy little boy.

So...I think I need to stop here. I know he is happy to be home in Boise. It is clear he had missed this world. It is also clear we have plenty of healing to work through. We are prepared for this challenge, and in fact, will embrace it. It is the "getting better" part of our difficult battle. Love will work its magic!

Thank you for being there...for hoping...for praying...for anything and everything. It is the incredible support that kept me strong and ready for these past few days. We do have some key hurdles over the next weeks. I'll write up a few updates for those still interested. We can also be reached directly at findmaxgian@yahoo.com.

Sincerely,
Marco Alcalde, the Happy Father of an even Happier MaxGian Alcalde

01 Apr 2010: Even though the day is one for jest, I am so glad not to be much of a practical joker! On this April 1st I am looking into MaxGian's brilliant blue eyes for the first time in over sixteen months. I see a smile on my son, the one I have dreamed of seeing. We will soon be back in the US and home to Boise.  More to follow soon. Marco

17 Feb 2010: The HLN Story on MaxGian aired every day, multiple times, this past week. It was very well done and we hope and pray it will lead to new positive leads. We thank everyone at HLN (Turner Broadcasting) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for their recommendation and excellent support.

We are actively working to secure a copy of, or link to, one or more of the 2-4 min spots so as to make them accessible via this website. If you have made a copy, please inform us at findmaxgian@yahoo.com.

Investigations are ongoing, with a number of active leads. Anyone with contacts in Latin America (Especially Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama), please email us so we can explore ways you may be able to help.

MaxGian's classmates, friends, and family all think of him daily. We impatiently wait and hope positive news will come soon. The impact on our human tree of family and friends is painful and consuming. It is especially confusing to our children.


08 Feb 2010: Email received today from Christi Paul regarding the day/times the stories will run on CNN HLN...

Hi Marco!

 

Sorry I’m just getting back to you now but last week was crazy and we were finishing the scripts for your segments and I rarely check my work e-mail over the weekend.

 

The stories on MaxGian will begin running today.  Depending on the news of the day and barring any real breaking news, the segment should run a couple times…once in the noon hour, 1pm hour, 2pm hour and maybe the 3pm (all eastern) on HLN.  We’ve cut 5 different stories out of our interview so we can air one story each day at all those times I just mentioned.  I’ll probably try to tape a segment for the weekend show as well.

 

My goal is to also post one of the segments on my Facebook page.  Just search Christi Paul HLN.  We should have it on there by tomorrow or Wednesday. 

 

Please keep us posted on any developments that might come in so we can update the story as needed. 

 

I’m pulling for you Marco and hope this can help in some way!

 

Kindest wishes,

Christi

29 Jan 2010: Kristi Paul and CNN's Headline News have MaxGian's story ready to air on national TV, starting the week of Feb 8th. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) recommend missing children cases to CNN, who then select one to be the missing child of the week (nationally). Krisit Paul reports these stories, who coincidentally, began her career in Boise. We are working to learn the exact days and times the story will air, and plan to update this site. CNN is working on a website for this newly revised program and we will post it when it is available.

03 Dec: The past month we have been working hard to follow leads, generate new leads, and further raise awareness of our search for MaxGian and his mother. We have traveled to Central America with these goals in mind. We have created multiple leads and made excellent contacts during this time. In addition, Ch 2 News did a story associated with 1 year passing since MaxGian was taken from Boise by his non-custodial mother.

31 Oct: Today is MaxGian's Birthday and a very difficult day for all who miss him at his school and neighborhood. We traditionally kicked the trick or treat festivities off with his birthday party. This year we gathered briefly prior to embarking out and wished him a happy birthday.

21 Oct: We are asking for HELP find information from specific areas of Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica. MaxGian has now been taken from his family and friends for 11 months. 
In Mexico: A) Ameca   B) Veracruz   C) Cancun
In Panama: A) Border towns   B) David
In Costa Rica: A) Border towns   B)  Puntarenas

We are all as determined as ever to locate and return him to Boise. Please pass on the website and our request for help to anyone you know who lives or travels to these areas.

30 Sep: MaxGian has now been taken from his family and friends for over 10 months. Nearly every hour of every day I think about how to find and recover him. Federal investigators are making limited progress, but we are optimistic new clues found by both our foreign and local private investigators will lead to solid progress. 

Our neighborhood is organizing a team for the Barber to Boise Run/Walk on 17 October. The team will be dedicated to helping raise awareness and funds in support of finding and recovering MaxGian. We will have T-Shirts for participants and hand out flyers at the race. If you are interested to support our effort, please send an email to findmaxgian@yahoo.com. Christina Joski is coordinating this and we thank her with all our heart.

The CNN Webcast with MaxGian will be delayed a few months. We are hoping to have word on when the piece will air soon.

31 Aug: The CNN Webcast with MaxGian will be delayed a few months. Apparently, the tag line "Find The Children" infringes on another organization's use of this line. CNN is working to modify their program thus delaying the broadcast.

Today is the first day of school for both MaxGian and Luca Principali. Unfortunately, neither boy will not be at their respected schools with their peers. Over a week ago Luca was kidnapped from his Boise home by his non-custodial mother. Luca's father, Tony Principali, now suffers from the gut wrentching feelings of loss associated with having your child taken from you. Marco has reached out and met with Tony, offering emotional support in this overwhelming time. Let's hope Luca will be found and returned quickly.

Marco met with MaxGian's 2nd grade teacher at Collister Elementary this morning. It was clearly a painful experience but necessary to prepare for MaxGian's return. The Boise School District will keep a place for MaxGian so he can quickly move back into the life from which he was taken.

Law Enforcement and Private Investigators are making some progress in the search for MaxGian and his non-custodial mother, Maika. There are friends of Maika who know where she is and will eventually recognize that MaxGian belongs in Boise with his father. We will need to find more patience and keep up the prayers for MaxGian.

16 Aug: We learned Friday the CNN Webcast with MaxGian will be delayed a week or two. We will update this site when we have the new date and time.

12 Aug: MaxGian"s story will be on a live CNN Webcast on the 17 of August. He will be featured as the Missing Child of the week on the Find the Children special. The link to the site is: http://www.cnn.com/live/. The exact time is not yet known. We will update this site when we have the exact time. Our NCMEC case manager has been fantastic in helping to get this visibility!

We have private investigors working here in the US as well as in Latin America. Progress is slow and sometimes the information is confusing. However, we are rapidly gaining a large number of people in these areas looking for MaxGian and his mother. If anyone has suggestions for reaching out in these areas, please email us at the findmaxgian@yahoo.com.

A recent friend is personal friends with John Walsh of America's Most Wanted. We are hopeful we can get some visibility on this tremendous show. More on this soon.

The new school year is rapidly approaching and it is terribly difficult to think MaxGian will miss the beginning of his second grade year. There are many people praying for his return. I want to thank each and every one of them.

If you do a search on the internet for MaxGian Alcalde you will see the incredible number of missing children websites our Missing Boy is listed. Please share our story with friends and maybe your effort will be key in helping us find him.

22 June: There are some clues pointing to Central America, with Panama and Costa Rica being the most likely countries. Maika has family in the Dominican Republic and a friend with family in Mexico, near Guadalajara. Please encourage anyone you know who lives, or travels, to these area to keep on the lookout for them.

20 May: Law Enforcement is still working to follow leads. I wish there was more. My heart hurts, yet still beats. We are working to raise funds to help offset the costs of private investigators. We are holding a Family Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser on the 30th of May at Collister Elemenatry. Please come enjoy a morning of fun, children, and pancakes at MaxGian's school with the families thinking of his return. See the flyer link at the top of the page. Thank You, MaxGian's Papa.

13 May: Our Poker Night fundraiser was a great success. Everyone has a good time and we raised sufficient funds to continue retaining our private investigations efforts.

09 May: Law Enforcement has no progress to report. Our fundraiser is tonight at the Basque Center.

22 Apr: There is no news from Law Enforcement. A Fundraiser Poker Tourney is planned for May 9th at the Basque Center. This will help offset costs associated with the effort to find, recover, and care for MaxGian upon his return. More details to follow.

31 Mar: There is no news from Law Enforcement. Our private investigator is on the case and will be working to find leads.

23 Mar: Please view this video. A Father's Request.

22 Mar: There is no significant news from Law Enforcement regarding the advancement of our case. We have now moved to employ private investigators to help locate MaxGian. We will report whatever we can as we move forward. If you know someone who works in the Airline Industry in Mexico, and they were working the 27th of November in Tijuana, Mexico City, or Mazatlan, please contact them, share the website pictures, and ask them if they recall seeing MaxGian and his mother.

15 Mar: On Saturday Father Camacho of the Saint Marys Church was kind enough to have Marco come onto his radio talk show and explain our situation to his audience. We have begun to generate donations to the Find MaxGian Fund. With these funds we have moved to secure the resources of a Private Investigator. The "Family Pizza Night" fundraiser is tonight at Young Chef's Academy.

09 Mar: Please review the new Page "The History" to learn why we are so concerned about MaxGian's safety. There is going to be a "Family Pizza Night" fundraiser at the Young Chef's Academy in Boise (3210 E. Chinden Bouldevard - Chinden & Eagle Rd.).

08 Mar: There are numerous activites and events planned to help raise awareness and funds. We will post a list here shortly.

01 Mar: We have started to collect donations to aid in hiring a Private Investigator. We have a ways to go.

25 Feb: We added a Special Thanks! page. We expect this page to expand quickly in the next few weeks.

24 Feb: We have added a PayPal "Donate" button to the very bottom of the How You Can Help page. Also, we have created a bank account for donations at the Bank of the Cascades. Details on how to make a donation directly through the bank are also on the How You Can Help page. We are close to hiring experienced PI services to aid in our efforts to find MaxGian and to bring him home.

22 Feb: This past week a motivated group of friends have pulled together to help push forward in a couple of directions. The efforts are focused on 1) Rapidly creating broader awareness of our situation and, 2) Raising sufficient funds to enable the acquisition of professional resources to help find MaxGian. The efforts to increase awareness will include creating a video where the parents and children in our neighborhood will talk about MaxGian, how much he is missed, and the serious concerns for his safety. A couple of mothers are working hard to reach out to select national media platforms to see if we can get one to pick up our story. We will also create a pamphlet, buttons, bumper stickers, etc. These items will help us approach people and businesses seeking financial support in efforts to find and recover MaxGian. We will open a special FindMaxGian bank account and initiate the process to create a non-profit (501 C3) organization.

Law Enforcement is still creating and working leads, and we hope they are making good progress. We recognize the nature of these kinds of sensitive cases, and that very little specific information flows back to the parent or victim.

Very shortly we will add a new tab to the website focused on outlining ways you can donate to Help Find MaxGian" tab to this website. We will include multiple ways to donate including Paypal.

08 Feb: Our Home Page Spanish translation has been "honed" thanks to Brett M. Thank you Brett.

07 Feb: The FBI continues to work on developing and following leads. There are leads in a number of countries. It does appear that Maika took MaxGian into Mexico at San Ysidro on Thanksgiving Day. She used her older son to help in this effort. It also appears Maika and MaxGian planned to board a flight from Tijuana to another city in Mexico on this day. Apparently, it is very difficult for our law enforcement to track people flying in Mexico. If you know someone who is an employee of the airport in Tijuana, or of any Mexican airline, please forward a link of this website to them. We hope we can find someone who remembers seeing them in an airport, or on a plane, on the 27^th of November.

The past week I have written to all the Idaho Senators and Congressmen asking for any help they can provide. We will follow up with phone calls and letters this week. I am looking into private organizations which specialize in locating abducted children abroad.

We are also planning to form a non-profit organization to aid our effort as well as other people in similar situations. I believe there is much to be done to help people prevent or address situations similar to this one

To my son MaxGian...I will NEVER stop until you are home with me, with your family, and with your friends.

To anyone in contact with Maika...pass this message along!

01 Jan: New Photo's have been added of MaxGian. No new information over the holidays. Please keep praying and forwarding a link of this website to anyone living or traveling south of the border.

28 Dec: CBS Eyewitness News came and did a follow-up story on Christmas day. There has been no additional news regarding the search for MaxGian. Christmas has come and gone at Alcalde home. All of the family came to Boise to be together. Family and friends have been tremendously supportive.

23 Jan: more info soon

21 Dec: Update Email sent out to those in the Guestbook Contact List

19 Jan: Law Enforcement are actively working our case and have asked that we remain patient. This is much easier said than done when it is your child. There is a new video on YouTube created by a good friend Tyler Colwell. You can view it by googling MaxGian. There is a pic of MG and his 1st grade teacher next to it.

15 Dec: Ch 2 Eyewitness News aired another comprehensive spot on our situation this evening. We are strongly encouraging everyone to contact your local media and ask for more information/coverage. Law enforcement is actively working our case but we still need more leads. The mother regularly attended the Church of the Vineyard in Boise/GC. We are hoping someone there may have inadvertently heard something about the mother's plans.

13 Dec: Video added below (thank your TC). Please watch.

12 Dec: Update Email sent out to those in the Guestbook Contact List

11 Dec: The Home Page is now in Spanish (see bottom of the page). Please forward this site to all your friends south of the border.

09 Dec: An Amber Alert is determined not to be beneficial, as it is too late. Warrant issued for the mother.
Local television airing as top story. The search moves to the border with Mexico, and south.

08 Dec: Look near border crossings (e.g. San Ysidro) (Crossing believed to be on Thanksgiving Day)