'We will not give up hope': Girlfriend of missing Worcester man keeping faith in Puerto Rico

While the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies in Puerto Rico have suspended the water search for Samuel Wanjiru, the Marine from Worcester who went missing March 27, others at the shoreline remain hopeful.

Natasha Castillo, Wanjiru's girlfriend, is among the friends and family on the island, returning each day to the La Pared beach in Luquillo. It was there that Wanjiru, 26, got caught in the currents.

"For us, he has to be somewhere. He's got to be," Castillo said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

Wanjiru and Castillo were vacationing in Puerto Rico for two days when he went missing.

An extensive search followed, with the Coast Guard and Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau scouring the ocean by boat and helicopter. The waters off La Pared have been dangerous for weeks.

Sunday, the agencies suspended the search.

Castillo and others are working with residents near the beach to keep the search alive.

"We're trying to contact local fisherman who have experience diving, and word of mouth," Castillo said.

Monday, Castillo created a GoFundMe account to help friends and family who remain in Puerto Rico.

She wrote: "Samuel’s mother and I are trying to get as much resources and help as we can because we will not give up hope in finding our Samuel."

Wanjiru, who is a Worcester resident but did not grow up in the city, is a Reserve Marine corporal assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 472, Marine Aircraft Group 49, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, in Chicopee.

He serves as a motor vehicle operator.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Girlfriend of missing Worcester man not giving up in Puerto Rico