A Dream Turned Nightmare: The Disappearance of Anna Kivich
The search for 40-year-old Anna Kivich, an American citizen originally from Colombia, has taken a distressing turn, leaving her family and friends grappling with fear and uncertainty. Kivich, who resided and worked in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had been enjoying an extended stay in Madrid, Spain, seeking respite and a change of scenery amidst a separation from her husband.
Her ordeal began on February 2nd, when she was last seen by a neighbor at her Madrid apartment building. Later that evening, around 10:00 PM, she had a phone conversation with a friend, marking the last known contact anyone had with her.
Anna Kivich pictured smiling in a white shirt
The following day, a series of peculiar text messages, seemingly sent from Kivich’s phone, reached her best friend, S. Ramos, and brother, Philipe Hanau. The messages, uncharacteristic of Kivich’s usual communication style, spoke of a newfound love interest and a trip to his summer house, located approximately two hours away from Madrid.
Red Flags and Growing Concerns: A Mystery Unfolds
Ramos, instantly alarmed by the out-of-character messages and Kivich’s uncharacteristic behavior, immediately contacted the Madrid police. The messages raised concerns due to their unusual wording, lack of detail, and inconsistency with Kivich’s travel plans, as she had a pre-arranged trip to Barcelona scheduled for Monday morning.
Adding to the unsettling nature of the messages, Hanau, fluent in his sister’s Colombian dialect, found the Spanish used in the texts to be inconsistent with her typical language patterns. This discrepancy suggested the messages might have been composed in another language and then translated using an online tool like Google Translate.
Screenshot of a text conversation with Anna Kivich's phone. The message reads, "I met a very nice person, I am going to spend a few days in a town near Madrid at his house. There is not much signal there. I'll call you when I get back. I love you."
On February 4th, with still no word from Kivich, the fire department was dispatched to her apartment for a wellness check. The apartment, found locked from the outside, showed no immediate signs of struggle or forced entry. However, the fire department’s role was limited to ensuring the safety of potential occupants and not conducting a thorough investigation.
Disturbing Revelations and a Race Against Time
Six days after Kivich’s last confirmed sighting, Ramos traveled to Madrid, determined to assist in the search. While at Kivich’s apartment building, a chilling detail emerged from the building’s daytime security personnel. On the evening of February 2nd, approximately 30 minutes prior to Kivich’s last known contact, a man wearing a helmet was captured on security cameras spray-painting the building’s surveillance cameras with black paint.
Adding to the peculiarity of the situation, this individual reportedly took advantage of residents entering and exiting the building to gain access and further vandalized surveillance cameras near the elevator. While this incident occurred close to the time of Kivich’s disappearance, investigators have not yet officially linked the two events.
Despite the alarming circumstances surrounding Kivich’s disappearance, Spanish authorities are currently treating the case as a missing person investigation. This classification has hindered access to crucial evidence, such as phone records and the contents of Kivich’s apartment, as obtaining legal authorization for these investigative steps requires evidence of foul play.
A Plea for Help and a Glimmer of Hope
Ramos, frustrated by the perceived lack of progress in the investigation, has tirelessly advocated for increased attention to her friend’s case. She has actively engaged with both Spanish and American authorities, urging for a thorough and expedited investigation. The FBI, while currently not conducting an active investigation, is reportedly liaising with Spanish authorities through their legal attaché in Spain.
Despite the agonizing uncertainty, Ramos clings to hope, drawing strength from the memories of her close bond with Kivich and the outpouring of support from their circle of friends and family.
As the search for Anna Kivich continues, anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to contact the Madrid Police Department or the FBI immediately. Every piece of information, however insignificant it may seem, could be crucial in bringing Anna home safely.
