„We think he was last seen at least 15 years ago, but no one is sure,“ the mayor, Miguel Angel Herrero, explained.

Earlier this week, however, a nephew who lived in the village decided to break into his uncle‘s house.

„They say he wanted to see what had happened to his uncle,“ a neighbour told the local La Opinión de Zamora newspaper.

„I don‘t think I‘ll be able to sleep for at least a week,“ the young man reportedly said.