Rudy Farias, the Texas man who was found alive more than eight years after he was reported missing as a Houston teenager, was living with his mother the whole time, Houston police said.
In a news conference Thursday, the Houston Police Department said Farias was reported missing by his mother in 2015, but returned the next day.
During the eight years, police received tips and leads that indicated Farias was not missing, Lt. Christopher Zamora said in the news conference. “Many of these facts included contact and statements with relatives, friends and medical professionals.”
From 2015 to 2023, police said Farias spoke with officers, but he used fake names and date of births, which misled officers.
“Both Janie, Rudy’s mother, and Rudy himself gave fictitious names while interacting with various patrol officers,” Zamora said. “Janie continued to deceive police by remaining adamant that Rudy was still missing.”
Police said Farias and his mother were interviewed Wednesday. The investigation is ongoing, police said. Farias is staying with his mother by choice, Zamora said Thursday.
Previously:8 years after he was reported missing as Houston teen, Texas man found alive, injured
Who is Rudy Farias’ mother, Janie Santana?
Janie Santana, Farias’ mother, alleged that her nephew was the person friends and family were seeing at the house. Police said that wasn’t true.
The Texas Center for Missing shared this statement on behalf of the family when Farias was found:
“We want to thank the media and public for all their support. My son Rudy Farias IV was found on Thursday, June 29, after being missing for eight years. Currently, we do not have any additional information on Rudy’s case. 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. We are asking for privacy during this difficult time but will share more details as Rudy continues to heal.”
Will Janie Santana be charged?
Police said the district attorney has declined any charges at this time for making false reports.
“Investigators have reached out to adult protective services,” Zamora said. “We’ve also connected Rudy with victim services to ensure that he has a method to recover.”
Zamora said Farias did not disclose allegations of sexual abuse in interviews with authorities. “If there is a disclosure made, we will continue to investigate,” he said.
“Being missing is not a crime, so the detectives had no lawful means or probable cause to issue a search warrant for the residence, which was searched several times,” Zamora added.
When was Rudy Farias found?
Houston police said Farias was found wounded June 29 outside a church at about 10 p.m. local time. Zamora said Farias refused transportation to the hospital, but his mother took him to the hospital later that day.
How old is Rudy Farias?
Farias is 25. He was 17 years old when he was reported missing.
When was Rudy Farias reported missing?
Police said Rudolph Rudy Farias IV was reported missing on March 7, 2015. He vanished after walking his dogs in a neighborhood in northeast Houston. He returned home the next day.
Janie Santana’s neighbors said Rudy Farias had been living with his mother for years
After news broke that Farias’ was found, Santana’s neighbors – who never knew Farias was reported missing – said Farias had been living with Santana for years, local outlet KTRK reported.
Kisha Ross, who lives on the same street as Santana, according to civil court records obtained by KTRK, told the station Farias would hang out with her family often.
“He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son and daughter,” Ross told the station. “That boy has never been missing.”
Report:Neighbors say missing Texas man found 8 years later was living with mom in Houston
Farias’ family said they saw him in 2018, Houston police say
Houston police spokesman John Cannon told USA TODAY Wednesday that Farias’ family contacted investigators in 2018. The family said Farias was staying on the property of one of the family members, Cannon said.
Cannon said detectives went to the residence but did not find Farias after searching parts of the property that they were allowed to access. The missing-person investigation remained open because detectives were not able to find Farias, Cannon said.
Martin Renteria, a private investigator with Checkmate Investigative Field Services in Houston who was hired by Santana a few months after Farias went missing, said at least a dozen reports turned up to be nothing, The Associated Press reported.
Houston police and the Texas Equusearch, a nonprofit civilian search and recovery team, have been looking for Farias since 2015. Texas Equusearch said he suffered from depression and anxiety, and Farias might have been disoriented because he wasn’t taking his medication, the AP reported.
Contributing: The Associated Press
