Divers searched golf course ponds on Monday for a Los Angeles man who traveled to the Coachella Valley for work last week before disappearing, deputies said.
Omar Arce Meza, 33, a vice president with AIG Financial Distributors who was traveling for work, was last seen at the Desert Springs Marriott in Palm Desert around 11 p.m. Thursday, the department said in a statement.
He failed to show up for scheduled business meetings Friday and was reported missing.
"I just really want the community to keep an eye out for him," his wife, Diane Meza, said.
Meza spoke to her husband as he left a dinner with colleagues in Palm Desert and said he would call her when he got to his hotel.
"One of his co-workers put him in an Uber cab. The intention was to send him to his hotel. I think there was probably some confusion on which Marriott to go to," Diane Meza said. "He was absolutely the best thing that ever happened to me. He made everything better."
Omar was staying at the Courtyard by Marriott, but security cameras captured him walking out of the Marriott Desert Springs Resort instead. His jacket and wallet were found on the resort's golf course.
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The sheriff's department brought in bloodhounds, which pointed in the direction of water traps on the golf course, but his family said he was a strong swimmer.
Divers continued to search the murky pond and water traps on the course Monday, while his family handed out missing person's fliers and prayed for his safe return.
"Right now we're desperately looking for Omar. We miss him. He was my only brother so it's definitely very heartbreaking," said Sven Meza, his brother.
His friend Gustavo De La Mora, who said he could not believe Meza had disappeared, had not given up hope.
"He has family in San Diego, at this moment they haven't found a body in the Palm desert area after searches so they're hopeful that perhaps he found his way to San Diego," De La Mora said.
Meza was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 160 pounds. He was wearing a gray pants and a white shirt when he was last seen.
Anyone with information or who may have seen Meza is asked to call the Palm Desert Sheriff’s station at 760-836-1600.
