The disappearance of Antonio Escandell Torres, known locally as Toni “Taronges”, has entered a new phase after more than two months without any confirmed trace of the 85-year-old man from Sant Joan de Labritja.

Escandell was last seen on July 31, 2026. As of October 6, 67 days have passed without him being located or investigators obtaining a solid lead regarding his whereabouts.

The Director General of Emergencies and Interior of the Balearic Government, Pablo Gárriz, has confirmed that the case has now moved into a police and judicial investigation phase.

Search Operation Changes Phase

The change does not mean that all searches have stopped.

According to Gárriz, firefighters from Ibiza and Civil Protection volunteers continue to take advantage of training exercises and other activities to carry out additional checks in areas that have previously been searched.

The emergency services also continue to keep the incident open in case new information emerges that could assist the investigation.

The Guardia Civil, which has been directing the search, remains responsible for the investigation. At the time of Noudiari's latest report, the Guardia Civil had not yet provided a response explaining the precise implications of the new judicial phase.

Extensive Search Across Sant Joan

The search operation has involved a large number of emergency and security resources since Escandell disappeared.

Among those taking part have been:

• Guardia Civil

• Ibiza firefighters and their canine unit

• Sant Joan Local Police

• Civil Protection groups from different municipalities

• Guardia Civil helicopter

• Drones

• Specialist search dogs

• GREIM mountain rescue specialists

• GEAS personnel

• Local residents and hunters

More than 40 hunters also joined the operation during its early stages, using their knowledge of the surrounding countryside to help identify areas that could be searched.

The operation was subsequently expanded to include difficult terrain, wells and other potentially hazardous locations.

Wells, Cisterns and Difficult Terrain Checked

When the disappearance reached one month, the Guardia Civil intensified the operation with GREIM and GEAS personnel.

GREIM specialises in rescue operations in steep and difficult terrain, while GEAS personnel searched wells and other locations where a person could potentially be difficult to locate.

Several wells, cisterns and cavities were checked, including areas around Camí d'en Vidal and other locations further afield. Earlier searches also covered Camí de Cas Vidals, the area around Can Taronges, the road towards Benirràs, the Serra d'en Lluquí Sanç, the vénda de Cas Cavallers, ses Arcades and the pou de Labritja.

Specialist canine teams were also brought from Madrid in August for three days of additional searches, but their work did not produce any relevant discovery.

No Confirmed Trace Has Been Found

Despite the scale of the operation, authorities have not located Escandell or established what happened to him.

This remains the central unanswered question in the case.

Earlier in the search, authorities said there were no solid clues regarding his whereabouts or any confirmed explanation for his disappearance. His advanced age and medical condition were important factors in the original search, with authorities focusing heavily on the areas around his home and places connected with his usual routine.

Escandell has Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia and also has hearing difficulties, according to information previously provided during the search. These circumstances complicated efforts to locate him and meant that he might not respond if called.

Volunteers Continue Looking

Although the formal search operation has changed phase, people from the local community continue to look for Escandell.

According to the latest report, volunteers are still going into the countryside independently, sometimes accompanied by their own dogs.

The emergency services have also stressed that the case remains open should new information become available.

Authorities Ask for Official Information Only

Anyone who believes they may have seen Antonio Escandell Torres or has information that could help establish his whereabouts is asked to contact 112.

Authorities have previously urged people not to spread unconfirmed information on social media after rumours circulated during the first weeks of the disappearance claiming that he had been found.

At this stage, there is no confirmed information that Escandell has been located.

The case therefore remains open, with the investigation now moving beyond the large-scale search operation and into a police and judicial phase while authorities continue to examine any information that could help determine what happened to him.