Missing Miramar mother of three Vilet Torrez has not been seen or heard from in nine days and her best friend, whom she has known for 11 years, is worried the case will have a tragic end.
"Each minute and each hour and each day goes by you know, you hold on to some hope," said friend and neighbor Clarissa Garcia. "But we see these stories all the time and your hope becomes less and less that she might be with us, and I'm thinking this is probably a tragic outcome."
Torrez disappeared March 30 when she failed to show up to work at Bath Fitter in Doral. She was last seen that day at 11 p.m., visiting a friend. No one has seen or heard from her since – something family and coworkers say is uncharacteristic of her.
Garcia and Torrez's family said the missing woman and her estranged husband Cid Torrez had a troubled marriage.
The children were removed from their father's custody Thursday night following a confidential call to the Florida Abuse Hotline, Mark Riordan, spokesman for the Florida Department of Children and Families, said Friday.
Vilet Torrez's brother, Javier Blanco, said a family member made the call after Cid Torrez threatened to get a gun and "end it all."
Cid Torrez's attorney Alvin Entin has said after the hearing that "This is not fair treatment, there is no indication that anything untoward has happened to Mr. Torrez's estranged wife. There's no indication that he's been involved in any kind of improper activity."
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The children are currently staying with the Vilet Torrez's mother after a judge granted the family custody Friday.
Garcia said there is no chance that her friend needed a break and decided to take off unannounced.
"No, no," Garcia said. "Vilet would never leave those kids. No. I am pretty sure that my friend is with us but not on this earth."
