New Twist in Case of Missing Local Man

The wife of Nicholas Francisco, a 28 year-old father from SeaTac who has been at the center of a national missing person search since February, has filed for divorce from her missing husband. In the dissolution papers filed at King County Superior Court, Christine Francisco cited "willful abandonment that continues for a period of time," as a reason for her request of dissolution.

A dead man, or even a man who is suspected to be dead, would not be described as willfully abandoning his family. So, does this mean that the missing man has been located alive and well? Washington State requires the petitioning party to serve the respondent with papers to begin dissolution proceedings. Like all respondents in a Washington State dissolution, Nicholas has 60 days to respond to his wife's petition. And, since most family court records are made public, the mystery of Francisco's disappearance could be solved soon.

If he is found somewhere across the country alive and well—having left his pregnant wife without a word—we hope they make him repay the cost of searching for him, as well as therapy for his kids, as part of his settlement.

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By Abbey in News on June 17, 2008 8:30 AM

Comments [rss]

Silverstar

Well, think of it this way. This way she gets rid of him faster than waiting seven years to have him declared dead. All she has to do is post a notice in a newspaper looking for him, and if he doesn't respond in 60 days, she's outta there. It's what I'd do, especially if he was abusive.

Jack

I figured from the start that he up & ran off.

Abbey

Yeah, folks don't really often talk about such things in public--especially when trying to encourage people to search for a missing man.

I chose not to include these allegations, in hopes to not make it a completely gossipy sounding piece.

I used to work in a family law/divorce firm and claims of abuse--physical, sexual, and mental--were present in almost 100% of the cases we represented.

It never ceases to amaze me how terrible people can be to the person they 'love.'

sbj1505

What I thought was fascinating (from the Seattle PI blurb about this), was that the divorce petition also alleges:

"history of acts of domestic violence ... or an assault or sexual assault which causes grievous bodily harm or the fear of such harm."

I didn't follow this particularly closely, but this is the first I'd heard of there being such issues.

ruffhauser

I forgot all about this guy after his missing person flyer came off the telephone poles.

I just figured he turned up.

Another strange disappearance. Seattle isn't the serial killer capital of the world for nothing.

Troy Morris

I know that some folks read the initial report here knew him. I know that a people who know people who knew him.

Let's do some investigating on the grape vine!

jwhieger

Irresponsible prediction alert! He ran off with his gay lover.

Evidence: None, other than the fact he and his wife did not seem at all like a "match" from photos and he is such a pretty boy.

This was my guess at the time of the disappearance and I'm sticking with it now that it appears that he isn't dead.