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  UCPD Michael Negrete is still missing.

By Linh Tat

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Police are not much closer to solving the case of a missing UCLA student now than they were one year ago.

Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the day Michael Negrete, then a first-year student living in Dykstra Hall, disappeared.

“The first thing that went through my head was why did he go somewhere without telling me, and I was angry,” said Mary Negrete, Michael’s mother, by phone on Tuesday night.

“My first reaction was that I was annoyed with him and I was going to tell him off, but then he never came back,” she continued.

Michael was last accounted for around 4 a.m. Dec. 10, when he logged off a computer game he was playing with a friend down the hall. He was last seen wearing a blue plaid shirt and khaki shorts. He left behind his wallet and other personal belongings in his room.

His disappearance at first generated a large community search effort. Early in the investigation, bloodhounds from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department traced his scent from the dormitory to a bus stop on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Bellagio Drive.

In June, detectives issued a questionnaire to all Dykstra Hall residents about the day Michael disappeared.

After months without a solid lead, detectives released a sketch in July of a man allegedly seen on Negrete’s floor the night he disappeared.

The man, who was reportedly wearing a gray jacket with a turquoise design, is described as white, 35 years old, 5 feet 7 inches, with a heavy build and no facial hair. Police are still looking for him.

According to Sgt. Joe Purcell of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department homicide bureau, detectives came across the lead while reviewing the questionnaires, but the student who provided the information also came forward of his own accord. The student had also contacted university police shortly after Michael disappeared, Purcell said.

“He had tried to get the information to the appropriate sources within a week of Mike’s disappearance, but there was no action taken,” he said.

But UCPD detectives said they investigated the student’s lead.

“The information was reported differently and that information was followed up on,” said Terry Brown, a detective with UCPD.

For the Negrete family, slow developments in the case have tested their patience.

“Our lives are really disrupted by this, but we think we need to provide a pretty stable life for our other two boys,” Mary said.

“You would think that I would be more overprotective, but we’re just trying to maintain a pretty normal relationship with (the boys),” she said.

The family, which hired a private investigator early in the case, established a Michael Negrete Search Fund to help pay for the $100,000 reward offered for information leading directly to finding Michael.

“We are considering that if the money never gets used as reward money, the money may be donated to the two high schools Michael went to,” Mary said.

The Negrete family considered holding a concert to observe the anniversary of his disappearance, but decided against it.

“We thought we’d rather relax that day and not relive the whole thing again. The last thing I want to do is relive that day,” Mary said.

Though nearing the one-year mark of his disappearance, police maintain that they will never close the case but acknowledge the difficulty of finding leads now.

“Certainly the longer time elapses from the event to the investigation, the more difficult it becomes because you can’t recreate what happened originally,” Purcell said.

At the peak of the investigation, seven detectives were working on the case simultaneously. Now, police agencies like the UCPD may receive tips, but Purcell and his partner are leading the case.

“Of course I want the investigation to be ongoing until they find answers. I’m frustrated that they haven’t found any answers,” Mary said.

Michael’s story is scheduled to air on the show “Million Dollar Mysteries” on Fox next month.

His mother posted a note on a Web site devoted to finding him:

“Michael: We love you, we miss you terribly, and we think about you constantly. Our greatest wish is for you to contact us and let us know that you are all right. We will never give up looking for you.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact the L.A. Sheriff’s Department at (323) 890-5500. For more information about the case, go to www.findmikenow.com.

NEGRETE CASE TIMELINE A look at some of the key events in the search for Michael Negrete. Sunday marks the one year anniversary of his disappearence. DECEMBER 10

Michael Negrete was last accounted for at approximately 4 a.m. after logging off a computer game he had been playing with a floor mate.

Bloodhounds from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department trace his scent to a bus stop on the corner of Bellagio Drive and Sunset Boulevard.

At the peak of the investigation, seven detectives were working on the case simultaneously. This has been scaled down to one.

The family hires a private investigator.

An award of $5,000 is posted for information directly leading to his whereabouts.

JANUARY 6 Parents cancel their son's housing contract and remove his personal belongings from his room in Dykstra Hall. FEBRUARY Only one detective remains working on the case part-time.

Mary Negrete writes a chain letter via e-mail, asking for the public's assistance.

MARCH 25 Michael's birthday; family travels to San Bernardino to attend the Orange Show Speedway, where one competitor completes a parade lap with Michael's picture on the truck. APRIL The family increases reward money to $10,000. JUNE 5 The L.A. County Sheriff's Department issues a questionnaire to all Dykstra Hall residents regarding the day of Michael's disappearance. 6 Mary Negrete holds a rally at the Dykstra Hall patio.

More than $19,000 raised to date through the Michael Negrete Search Fund.

JULY 17 Detectives released a sketch of a man wanted for questioning. Original graphic by ADAM BROWN/Daily Bruin Web adaptation by MICHAEL PARKER