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Australian Couple's Son Not Missing, Just Busy

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By VALERIE KALFRIN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 14, 2007

TAMPA - An Australian man whose parents flew here from Sydney to report him missing after not hearing from him for a month has been found safe, police said.

  
Dennis Mosquera

Dennis Mosquera, a 30-year-old computer engineer, told police Tuesday he had been in Tampa since Oct. 13 but was "working on his business" and hadn't wanted to talk to anyone, Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said.

Mosquera's parents, Hugo, 68, and Faviola, 65, became alarmed after their son hadn't called or contacted them since boarding a nonstop flight to Tampa from Chicago on Oct. 13. They have been staying in a hotel on North Dale Mabry Highway since Oct. 28 to find him, speaking to police and handing out fliers.

Police had confirmed Dennis Mosquera's arrival but learned he had not checked in to the hotel where he advised he was staying. Investigators had difficulty obtaining bank records to track his whereabouts because of international issues. His parents said it was unusual for him to be out of contact because he phoned often while traveling.

On Tuesday, a hotel worker who read a Tampa Tribune article about the parents' efforts recognized Dennis Mosquera's picture. The worker called police and private investigator Roy Pierce, who is helping the parents. The worker reported the missing man had stayed at his establishment between Oct. 16 and 19, Pierce said.

The worker had jotted down Mosquera's passport number, confirming his identity, and also the man's cell phone number and e-mail address, Pierce said.

Davis said an investigator used that phone number to reach Dennis Mosquera on Tuesday. The investigator planned to relay to the parents that their son was all right. "Our case is closed," she said.

An attempt to reach Hugo and Faviola Mosquera was unsuccessful Tuesday.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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