Local Man Missing For a Week After Tijuana Trip

Police said Wednesday a local man who has been missing for nearly a week had earlier returned to the U.S. after he and his wife crossed the border into Tijuana, Mexico.

63-year-old Pasadena resident John Magnus French went missing after he went to get food in Tijuana where he was visiting with his wife last week. 

Police confirmed French was seen near San Diego at 6:46 a.m. on March 22. He has not been heard from since, according to police.

The couple had crossed the border for a dental appointment when their vehicle experienced mechanical issues, according to the Pasadena Police Department. 

On the evening of March 21, John called his wife, Callie, to inform her that he had dropped off the car for repairs and was going to get a burrito before heading back to their hotel. 

“The last time I spoke with him was Thursday night at about 8:45 p.m. when he told me he was going to have a burrito and head back to the hotel,” Callie told CBS News. I haven’t seen or heard from him since.”

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection records, John was documented crossing back into the United States alone at the Otay Mesa pedestrian bridge on March 22 around 6:46 a.m. However, he failed to contact his wife or family and has not been seen or heard from since, Pasadena police said.

Compounding the family’s concerns, John has been diagnosed with medical and mental health issues and does not have his medication with him, family members said. 

The family reached out to the Pasadena Police Department for assistance in determining if John has been using his credit card, as there has been a $250 withdrawal from a bank and some minor charges since his disappearance, according to police.

French is described by the Pasadena Police Department as 5’9″, 175 lbs with a thin build, short brown/grey hair, and clean-shaven. He was last seen wearing a short-sleeve light blue T-shirt, blue jeans, a blue quilted coat with a blue puffer jacket, and gray boat shoes.

The Pasadena Police Department has filed a missing persons case, number PA2024-23485, and is actively investigating French’s disappearance. 

Anyone with information about John Magnus French’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4501 or their local law enforcement agency immediately.