Thanksgiving

Missing Hollywood Producer Found in Mexico

Authorities said the man had been missing since Nov. 24.

A 27-year-old visual effects producer who worked on blockbusters like "The Avengers," "San Andreas," and "X-Men" was found in Mexico Friday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Eric Kohler went missing 10 days ago from Gardena.

"Detectives from the Missing Persons Unit reviewed information provided to them and have determined that Mr. Eric Kohler is currently in the city of La Paz, Mexico, and is no longer considered a missing person,'' the LAPD said in a statement.

NBC4 reached out to his family, but had not received a response.

Last Tuesday, he walked out of work in Gardena without his wallet, his laptop or his bag -- and never came back.

His family was left in the dark over Kohler's plans, and was desperate to find him.

Night after night, Kohler's frantic mother and father posted fliers, hoping for any help in finding their missing son.

Kohler was described as an up-and-coming movie producer and his family said he is a workaholic, but also a responsible man who would never just disappear.

"I know my son would never do this," Sheryi Kohler said in an earlier report.

He was last seen leaving work, in the 1700 block of El Segundo Boulevard, last Tuesday in his new Range Rover. Phone records and surveillance video show he went to a Food 4 Less parking lot, but soon after his phone appeared to have been turned off.

"And he literally disappeared," said his father, Tony Kohler, at the time of his disappearance. "It's heartbreaking. It's damn heartbreaking."

Kohler is originally from Oakley, in Northern California, and relocated to Los Angeles after high school. Kohler moved to Los Angeles to work in the movie industry. Kohler responded to an ad for a receptionist job and worked his way to become a visual effects producer at HYDRAULX.

When he disappeared, friends and family said they were in agony. The Thanksgiving holiday came and went without any sign, as did a huge project deadline at work -- the kind Eric's parents say he would never miss.

"He had big ambition to work hard and that's what he's been doing and something bad happened," his mother said.

Initially, the family said that there was no activity in his accounts for days.

See LAPD's missing person flier here.

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