A Texas man who went missing as a teenager in 2015 after last being seen walking his dogs in Houston has been found alive, his family and police said this week.
Police and firefighters found Rudolph “Rudy” Farias IV late last week after getting a call of a person being down in front of a church in southeast Houston, police spokesman John Cannon said.
It was not immediately known where Farias had been the last eight years, Cannon said.
Police investigators had not yet spoken with Farias, 25, who remained hospitalised.
“What we do know is at the time of his recovery, a good Samaritan located him unresponsive and immediately called police and 911.
“My son Rudy is receiving the care he needs to overcome his trauma, but at this time, he is nonverbal and not able to communicate with us,” Janie Santana, Farias’ mother, said in a statement.
In a tweet, Houston police said it planned on speaking with Farias and his family.
The news that Farias had been found was first reported in a tweet by the Texas Center for the Missing, which was handling public communications on behalf of Farias’ family.
“We do know when a loved one goes missing this is the day all families hope for and dream of – REUNIFICATION.
“We are thankful that Rudy has been found and receiving the care he needs,” the centre said.
Farias was 17 years old when he was reported missing on March 6, 2015, after taking his two dogs for a walk near his family’s home in northeast Houston. The dogs were later found.
Houston police, along with Texas Equusearch, a civilian search and recovery team, looked for Farias but found no signs of him.
When Farias first went missing, Texas Equusearch reported that he suffered from depression and anxiety, and he might have been disoriented because he wasn’t taking his medication.
Farias also had asthma and walked with a slight limp because of an injured right leg.
“According to his mother he is very wary around strangers,” Texas Equusearch said in 2015.
Associated Press
