Family of missing Watsonville man isn’t giving up hope

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team said they haven’t given up hope yet and neither has his family.

The search for Ivan Goich took to the skies Wednesday as Sheriff’s Department aircraft searched overhead. Meanwhile, some of the missing man’s family flew in from southern California.

“We just feel like we need to be here. We need to be a support system for our entire family,” Joyce Ewart, Goich’s cousin said.

Goich’s immediate family lives in Croatia, but family members who are able to be here hope they can get the latest information overseas.

“I need to check out the farm myself. I need to check out the places where he’s been,” said Ewart.

Another cousin who lives in Watsonville said Goich enjoys farming his apple orchard and painting.

“Always working and very friendly, a lot of people knew him,” Linda Moresco said.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff investigators have learned that Goich expressed some emotional trouble around the time he disappeared.

He was last seen on March 30th, after a visit to a hospital in Fremont.

Search and rescue crews have combed through Watsonville’s vast farmland, an area Goich spent most of his time.

“With the media’s help, we have gotten some clues, some help, and we are flowing up on it, but nothing yet,” Sgt. Joe Clarke said.

For now, they will continue to follow up on those leads and Goich’s family has a message for Ivan if he’s listening: “We don’t want him to think he can’t come home. I don’t know what’s he’s going through. But whatever he’s going through, he needs to know that we love him very very much and we will support him in everything and everyday,” said Ewart.