In a troubling turn of events, Camp Pendleton Marine Corporal Charles Alex Benfield has been officially reported missing after failing to report for duty post-weekend liberty in San Diego. The North Carolina native’s sudden disappearance has sparked widespread concern among family and military personnel alike.
Corporal Benfield was last seen in downtown San Diego where he was detained for public intoxication and subsequently released from the McAlister Institute Recovery and Bridge Center last Sunday. His sister, Sarah Lazo, reports unusual behavior for Alex, who was worried about losing his military rank after missing a scheduled meeting at 8 a.m. the following morning.
“He was saying how he was scared, he was going to lose his rank,” Lazo explained, recounting the information provided by the front desk at the recovery center. Benfield had planned to retrieve his lost phone before disappearing, which added to the anxiety surrounding his whereabouts.
A communications director with the Marines stated, “Cpl. Charles Benfield did not report for duty on April 15 following weekend liberty. The 15th MEU was aware of his detention and conducted a search in the downtown area to locate him once he was released.”
The disappearance has led to the involvement of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), which is now working in conjunction with local authorities to trace Benfield’s last known movements. This includes examining his financial activity, which alarmingly revealed that his bank account had been emptied through several large withdrawals at different ATMs.
Benfield’s last known location was traced to the vicinity of the San Diego Police Department, and his phone, now dead, last pinged in the same area. His family, desperate for any leads, has been contacting hospitals, hotels, and even the medical examiner’s office in hopes of finding him.
Sarah Lazo expressed her disbelief at her brother’s uncharacteristic disappearance, especially given his recent reenlistment for another four years with the Marines. “I can understand him being scared to show up after missing a meet, but to completely fall off the face of the earth is unlike him at all,” she said.
The family continues to distribute missing person posters and encourages anyone with information to come forward. The NCIS has also requested tips from the public, which can be submitted online, as they intensify their efforts to ensure Cpl. Benfield’s safety and resolve this perplexing case.
