Houston, Texas (KTRK) — Neighbors are questioning whether a 25-year-old man found alive after being reported missing eight years ago was ever really missing.
Keisha Ross and her family were shocked to learn that Rudolph “Rudy” Farias had been found as they never knew he had been reported missing. Civil court records show that his mother lives on the same street in Northeast Houston.
Ross said, “He used to come over to my garage, hang out with my cousins, son and daughter.” “That boy never disappeared.”
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Broderick Conley, Ross’s cousin, said they often hung out together.
Conley said, “It’s a good time to laugh.”
“Sometimes he would go to the park alone,” Ross said.
They know him as Dolph, an abbreviation of his given name Rudolph. They said that he often visits their house, but they have not seen him for the past few weeks.
According to Houston police, on Thursday morning, someone called authorities after a man was found sleeping outside the church. The man had an item identifying a family member, which enabled police to contact the mother.
Police identified the man as Rudy Farias, a man who was reported missing in action in 2015 when he was 17. His mother reported him missing when she said he never returned from a walk with his dogs.
The Texas Center for the Missing also tweeted over the weekend that Farias had been found and shared the following statement on behalf of the family:
“We would like to thank the media and public for their support. My son Rudy Farias IV was found on Thursday, June 29, after being missing for eight years. At present, we do not have any additional information on Rudy’s case. What we do know is that during his recovery, a Good Samaritan found him unresponsive and immediately called the police and 911. My son Rudy is receiving the care he needs to recover from his trauma, but at this time, he Has not been able to speak and has not been able to communicate with anyone. We. We are asking for privacy during this difficult time but will share more information as Rudy recovers.”
The Houston Fire Department chief told ABC13 that Farias refused to be taken by ambulance, which was signed by her mother and released into the care of her family.
Farias’ mother shared photos with Eyewitness News claiming that she had brought her son to the hospital. He spoke with ABC13’s Brooke Taylor by phone and told her that he believed his son had been beaten and abused for so many years and that someone had kidnapped him.
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Another neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of his safety, said he had seen him living at his mother’s house over the years.
“I was surprised that someone was missing here and we found him,” he said. “It’s shocking for everybody.”
At the time of Farias’ disappearance, his mother told authorities that he had been suffering from depression and PTSD since the death of his brother in a motorcycle accident in 2011, something neighbors say he talked about.
Ross said, “He said he lost his brother in a motorcycle accident.” ‘I know he didn’t come out to hang out when he thought of his brother; He himself used to sit behind in the forest.
On Tuesday, ABC13’s Brooke Taylor spoke with Farias’ mother in person outside her home. She didn’t want to go on camera but claimed that the man her neighbors have spent time with and seen him living with is her nephew. He shared a picture of her, but neighbors say it is not her. Now, they are trying to find out why any of them would say that he is missing.
WATCH: HPD plans to interview Rudy Farias’ family days after he was found
Ross said, “I don’t know. That’s what I’ve been trying to find out all day.” “I’m confused right now. I’m thinking, ‘What’s happening?'”
According to the Houston Police Department, a family member called them in 2018 and said Farias was living behind a relative’s house, but when police went outside, they could not find him.
It’s been five days since Farias was found outside the church, and investigators have yet to speak to him. Police would not say why there was no sense of urgency, but investigators are due to speak to him on Wednesday.
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