Lorain families plead for loved ones' safe return (VIDEO)

LORAIN — Two Lorain families are pleading for their loved ones to come home. Relatives of Alaina Camacho, 18, of Cleveland, and Nathan Orona, 20, of Lorain, gathered Wednesday afternoon at Sacred Heart Chapel in South Lorain in the hopes of reaching someone with information about the pair, who have been missing for more than two weeks. "Let Alaina and Nathan come home," Orona's grandmother, Muneca Figueroa, said, choking back tears. "I want to cry. But we miss you. Please come home. Your families, your mom and everybody are desperate to have you around again." Camacho and Orona were last seen about 1:40 a.m. Feb. 1, when Camacho reportedly picked Orona up from his mother's apartment at Sheffield Estates. The car, a gold 2004 Honda Accord, license plate GTD9555, was last seen turning left on O'Neill Boulevard toward Elyria Avenue. The vehicle is missing its front bumper from a recent crash, Figueroa said. Family members have searched for the car to no avail. Orona's aunt, Jennifer Sanabria, said they have received calls at all hours from people who believe they have seen Camacho's car — many centering on the west side of the city — but nothing has turned up. Figueroa said the two were just casual friends who would not have eloped together. Neither took any personal belongings as if they were planning to leave, she said. Camacho's uncle, Albert Camacho, said it's unlike them to disappear. "We just can't believe this is happening to us," he said at Wednesday's news conference. "With this new year and with the pandemic and everything going on, we just want everyone — there's flyers out everywhere you go … and if you know anything or see anything, just give us a hint. Call us." Councilman Rey Carrion, D-6th Ward, organized the gathering at Sacred Heart. He and the Rev. Bill Thaden noted the Camacho and Orona families are far from alone. "We have a city that's behind you," Carrion said, turning to Figueroa and Camacho. "We love you, we are a very tight-knit community here in Lorain, and we're all going to do our best to keep our eyes open and to be able to share any information that will bring both Alaina and Nathan home safe." Alaina "Alice" Camacho is described as a 5-foot, 3-inch tall Hispanic woman with brown eyes and brown hair. She weighs about 140 pounds. She was last seen wearing black leggings, a black pullover sweatshirt, gray boots and a red baseball cap. She has the letter "M" with a crown tattooed on her neck behind her ear. She had recently moved to Cleveland from Lorain, and she was living on the city's east side. Nathan "Nuski" Orona is described as a 5-foot, 11-inch tall Hispanic man with brown eyes and brown hair and a thin mustache. He weighs about 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray hoodie, black jeans and black bandana. He has a wing tattoo on the front of his neck and on both arms. Those with information about Orona or Camacho are asked to call Cleveland police at (216) 623-5400 or the Lorain County Sheriff's Office at (440) 329-3709. Texas EquuSearch, a national nonprofit, is assisting in the search for both individuals. It can be reached at (281) 309-9500. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.