KC legislator Manny Abarca dismisses wife’s report that he and son went missing
Jackson County legislator Manuel “Manny” Abarca IV was reported missing over the weekend along with his youngest child.
Abarca’s wife, Alexis Garcia, wrote on Facebook Sunday night that her husband and 2-year-old son Manuel Abarca V were missing and that she had not seen the child, known as Luca, since Wednesday evening.
Garcia wrote that Luca was sick and did not have access to medication. She also described herself as the “preferred and primary caregiver” for both children she shares with Abarca.
“I am asking for help as a mother that is desperate to get her son back,” Garcia wrote.
Abarca, however, took to social media to say that reports of his absence were false.
“It has come to my attention that a ‘missing persons’ report has been filed erroneously concerning my son and me,” Abarca wrote in a statement shared early Monday morning. “Please rest assured we are not missing and that we are both safe and healthy.”
As of Monday morning, Abarca, 37, and Luca were still listed as missing persons on the Kansas Bureau of Investigation website. The KBI said Abarca was last seen on Thursday.
The Shawnee Police Department confirmed on Monday that the missing persons report is still “currently under investigation.”
“Although phone contact has been made, we have not yet had the opportunity to verify the individual’s well-being through direct, in-person contact,” department spokesperson Emily Rittman said. “While there is no immediate indication of danger, the investigation remains open out of an abundance of caution until we can independently verify their safety and well-being.”
Shawnee Police crime mapping data shows that police were called to the home of Abarca’s father on Thursday afternoon in response to what was described as a domestic dispute.
The Star has submitted an open records request for a copy of the police report.
Abarca has been making virtual appearances over the past several days. He was a vocal participant on Friday morning’s weekly Zoom meeting of the Urban Summit of Kansas City, which he joined virtually. He was also active on social media Friday, sharing commentary about the ongoing Jackson County budget freeze.
Neither Abarca nor his wife responded to a Star reporter’s text messages on Monday morning.
He did not attend the Monday afternoon meeting of the legislature’s anti-crime committee. Legislator Sean Smith sat in on his behalf, and the committee moved to hold its only item, an ordinance which Abarca sponsored.
He later joined a 16-minute meeting of the full legislature via video conference and led the Pledge of Allegiance remotely.
Abarca is serving his first term representing the 1st District in the Jackson County Legislature. Previously he served on the board of education for Kansas City Public Schools and was a long-time aide to U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.
Recently, Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. launched a misconduct investigation of Abarca, citing what White considered Abarca’s abusive treatment of county employees.
“Over the past several months, my office has received numerous reports from associates describing unprofessional, hostile, and demeaning conduct by Legislator Manuel Abarca,” White wrote in a letter to county legislators.
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 11:03 AM.
