A Marine from Gastonia, North Carolina, has been reported missing after a night of partying in downtown San Diego.
Corporal Charles Alex Benfield was stationed at Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California.
His sister, Sarah Lazo, said their family is devastated and that this behavior is not typical of Benfield.
“For us it’s just incredible and strange that this happened,” Lazo said. Queen City News.
Lazo said Benfield loved his job, so much so that he re-enlisted for four more years last fall.
Corporal Charles Alex Benfield (pictured) of Gastonia, North Carolina, has been reported missing after a night of partying in downtown San Diego.
Corporal Charles Alex Benfield was stationed at Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California.
Benfield was arrested in San Diego’s Gaslamp District for public intoxication a little over a week ago while his boat was docked there.
“That we think that he simply abandoned his duty, his service to his country, is ridiculous to us,” Lazo said. ‘He loves his work.’
The family first learned of Benfield’s disappearance from Benfield’s first sergeant, who was arrested for public intoxication in San Diego’s Gaslamp District a little over a week ago while his boat was docked there.
He was subsequently transferred from the McAlister Institute Bridge and Recovery Center on Sunday, April 14, and released that same day.
“The morning he was released, around 11:30 a.m., he was very paranoid, scared, explaining how he had lost his phone the night before, that he wanted to go look for it,” Lazo said.
“He didn’t want to return to the ship without his phone for fear of losing his rank and being punished.”
He was subsequently transferred from the McAlister Institute Bridge and Recovery Center on Sunday, April 14, and released that same day.
Benfield’s sister, Sarah Lazo (pictured), said her brother was particularly close to their mother and that her disappearance without a trace was out of character for him.
Because Benfield is on active duty and under investigation by NCIS, San Diego police cannot declare him missing. His family continues to post their own missing posters on social media.
“I can understand him being afraid to show up after missing a competition, but completely disappearing off the face of the earth is basically unlike him,” Lazo told Nexstar. KSWB/KUSI.
Benfield did not show up for work the same Sunday he was released, according to a Navy communications director. The Navy Expeditionary Unit and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are currently searching for him.
A Marine communications director issued the following statement regarding Benfield’s disappearance:
‘Cpl. Charles Benfield, a field artillery gunner assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, did not report to work the morning of April 15 after the weekend of freedom in the area from San Diego.
‘The 15th MEU is aware that Cpl. Benfield was arrested by San Diego police on April 14 and released that same day.
‘Once the 15th MEU learned of his release, the Marines of Cpl. Benfield’s unit searched the downtown San Diego area to try to locate him.
‘The safety and accountability of our Marines and sailors is a top priority. The 15th MEU has requested assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and will continue attempting to locate the corporal. Benfield to ensure your well-being.
The corporal graduated from Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia in 2018 and then enlisted.
Lazo said his brother was particularly close to their mother and would not disappear so suddenly.
Benfield (pictured) did not show up for work the same Sunday he was released, according to a Navy communications director.
The weekend Benfield left, his financial activity indicated that he had emptied his bank account, resulting in a negative balance.
“My mom is Alex’s favorite person, so the fact that he disappears off the face of the earth and has no contact with her makes us wonder if something else is going on,” Lazo said.
The weekend Benfield left, his financial activity indicated that he had emptied his bank account, resulting in a negative balance.
“Strange three retirements,” Lazo said. ‘Two of them were in the amount of $400, and another in the amount of $180.’
NCIS asks anyone with information to submit tips online.