Rudy Farias – latest news: Activist insists teen was abused by mother after Houston police denial

The case surrounding Rudy Farias took another bizarre turn as Houston police confirmed that the 25-year-old was never actually missing, but denied bombshell claims of abuse by his mother.

On Thursday, Police said Mr Farias’ mother, Janie Santana, filed a missing person’s report for her son on 6 March 2015 but that he returned home the following day.

Over the course of eight years, investigators spoke with Ms Santana, Mr Farias and other family members but were given false names and told Mr Farias was Ms Santana’s nephew.

Despite this, investigators said the district attorney would not be pursuing charges related to “making fictitious reports”.

The police account on Thursday directly contradicted allegations made by community leader and counsellor Quanell X, who attended a meeting with Mr Farias and detectives on Wednesday. Directly after the meeting, Quanell X told reporters that Mr Farias said he spent the last eight years hidden in his mother’s home suffering abuse at her hands.

Officials were unable to provide an explanation for the contradictions at Thursday’s briefing but Quanell X reiterated his claims to The Independent.

Key Points

• An 8-year search for Rudy Farias came to a miracle end. But was he really missing?

• Timeline of Rudy Farias’s disappearance and discovery

• Houston investigators say Rudy Farias was never missing

• District Attorney will not pursue charges against Rudy Farias’ mother

• GoFundMe to search for Rudy Farias raised $2k

Rudy Farias’ family accuses police of cover-up as mom won’t face charges

10:30 , Rachel Sharp

Aunts of Rudy Farias, who police said has not actually been missing for the past eight years, called the decision not to charge they boy’s mother “bulls***” at a news conference.

The police also said on Thursday that Janie Santana, Mr Farias’ mother, filed a missing person’s report for her son on 6 March 2015 but that he actually returned home the following day. An open investigation for the 25-year-old continued until his mother said he had been discovered outside a church in Houston, Texas on 29 June.

Three of Mr Farias’ aunts, Ms Santana’s sisters, held a separate news conference on Thursday, and they did not hold back on how they felt about their sister.

Read more here:

Rudy Farias’ aunts outraged that mother isn’t being charged for eight-year lie

ICYMI: Rudy Farias was never missing but his mother won’t face charges, police say

10:00 , Ariana Baio

Rudy Farias returned home the day after he went missing in 2015, and despite “numerous” false statements being made to police no criminal charges are currently planned, the Houston police have said.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told a press conference on Thursday that police interviews with Mr Farias and his mother Janie Santana on Wednesday had found no evidence of sexual or abuse during the eight years he was supposedly missing, despite claims by a counsellor who sat in on a police interview with Mr Farias on Wednesday.

Mr Farias, 25, was reported missing in March 2015, and an open police investigation into his disappearance continued until his mother Ms Santana said he had been discovered outside a church in Houston, Texas on 29 June.

However, Houston police said both Mr Farias and Ms Santana had claimed he was her nephew when interviewed by police.

Bevan Hurley reports:

Rudy Farias was never missing but his mother is not facing charges, police say

Houston police claim Rudy Farias was never missing

09:00 , Ariana Baio

In a press conference on Thursday, investigators in the Houston Police Department confirmed that Rudy Farias was never missing and returned home the day after he was declared missing.

Police said over the course of eight years Mr Farias was “missing” investigators made contact multiple times with his mother, Janie Santana, as well as Mr Farias.

Ms Santana and Mr Farias gave a false name to police and told authorities that Mr Farias was her nephew. Police said they “disputed” the claim.

Investigators also spoke with family members and friends which led them to believe he was not missing.

Quanell X doubles down on abuse allegations

08:00 , Ariana Baio

Quanell X, the community activist and counsellor who first aired allegations that Mr Farias was abused by his mother Janie Santana, has doubled down on those claims after they were denied by police.

“I believe that Rudy is absolutely a victim,” Quanell X told The Independent’s Sheila Flynn shortly after Houston police said Mr Farias is not considered a victim at Thursday’s press conference.

He went on to repeat claims he made to reporters the day before after sitting in on a meeting between Mr Farias and detectives.

In that meeting, Quanell X claimed Mr Farias said he was hidden in his mother’s home and subjected to abuse for eight years after she reported him missing.

Police maintain that Mr Farias did not report abuse in the meeting, but did confirm that Mr Farias was never actually missing.

Speaking to The Independent, Quanell X accused police of “trying to hide from conducting a shady sham investigation”.

“It’s all confusing as hell to me now,” he said.

Police say Rudy Farias is “safe” and with his mother by choice

07:00 , Ariana Baio

In a press conference on Thursday, investigators were questioned by reporters about the status of Rudy Farias whose mother lied about him being missing for eight years.

Police confirmed that Mr Farias is “safe” and “with his mother by choice.”

Several people raised alarms over Mr Farias due to allegations that his mother, Janie Santana, was abusing him. However, investigators said that Mr Farias never said this to them.

Police reminded people that Mr Farias is 25 years old can make his own decisions.

Neighbours say Rudy Farias had been living at home during eight years family claimed he was missing

06:00 , Ariana Baio

A Texas man who reportedly vanished eight years ago, and was recently found, was never actually missing, neighbours have claimed.

Twenty-five-year-old Rudy Farias made headlines over the weekend after it was reported he was found outside a church following his 6 March 2015 disappearance, his mother Janie Santana told ABC News. But in a shocking turn of events, neighbours of Ms Santana have now told the outlet that they were never aware Mr Farias was missing because they’ve often seen him in recent years.

“He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son, and daughter,” Kisha Ross told ABC. “That boy has never been missing ... Sometimes he would go to the park by himself.”

The Independent reports:

Neighbours say Rudy Farias was never missing as family claimed

Rudy Farias’ mother said she expected to be arrested

05:00 , Ariana Baio

Rudy Farias’ mother said she expected to be arrested after her son was reportedly “found” eight years after he was reported missing in a video captured before authorities revealed the district attorney would not pursuing charges.

Janie Santana’s recount of her son’s fictitious disappearance was been thrown into doubt after a counsellor who interviewed Mr Farias with Houston Police Department officers told reporters he had been sexually and physically abused and kept hidden by his mother the whole time.

In a video clip obtained by KPRC 2, Ms Santana told neighbours that she is expecting to be arrested.

“When he first went missing, he didn’t report it to the police,” Ms Santana said as she got out of her car at her home on Wednesday.

“And they are trying to say that he might have done some crimes. Which he didn’t. And now they want to arrest me. Because they said I was hiding him.”

Since Mr Farias’ bizarre “discovery” was announced earlier this week, family and neighbours have come forward to say that they were aware of his presence at his mother’s home.

Family of Rudy Farias knew he was not missing

04:00 , Ariana Baio

The relatives of Rudy Farias say they long disputed his mother, Janie Santana’s, claims that he was missing.

Mr Farias’ cousin, Cassandra Lopez, told KPRC2 that the family “knew in their hearts” that Mr Fairas was not gone. Ms Lopez told the Houston news station that their grandmother claimed to speak to Mr Farias regularly.

“She would just say, ‘I saw Rudy. You know, he came to check on me and we said hello and we had a little conversation,’” Ms Lopez said.

The family’s comments came shortly before police confirmed that the 25-year-old man had not been missing for eight years.

ICYMI: District Attorney will not pursue charges against Rudy Farias’ mother

02:00 , Ariana Baio

Houston police confirmed that 25-year-old Rudy Farias was not missing for the eight years his mother claimed he was but said the Houston district attorney declined to pursue charges against Jamie Santana.

Ms Santana could have been charged with “making fictitious reports” or “failure to ID” but the DA chose not to make those charges.

Police could not offer a possible motive behind why Ms Santana claimed her son was missing when he was not.

An eight-year search for Rudy Farias came to a miracle conclusion. But was he actually missing?

01:00 , Ariana Baio

Rudy Farias’ mother announced he was found alive eight years after he was reported missing as a teen. This news came as a surprise to neighbours and police, who are sure he wasn’t missing at all.

Andrea Blanco reports:

An 8-year search for Rudy Farias came to a miracle end. But was he really missing?

Rudy Farias’ mother had inconsistencies in her story

Friday 7 July 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio

For the eight years that Rudy Farias was allegedly missing, there were inconsistencies in her story, sources told ABC13.

Janie Santana told police her son was missing and seemingly failed to inform them he returned home one day after reporting him missing. But when investigators followed up with Ms Santana multiple times, she maintained that Mr Farias was actually her nephew and provided authorities with a false name.

Relatives and neighbours say that Mr Farias was never missing as he had been living at home with his mother the entire time.

When Mr Farias was found, Ms Santana claimed that he had been badly beaten and was “nonverbal” but Mr Farias was able to speak with authorities several days after he was found.

The original flyer claiming Rudy Farias was missing

Thursday 6 July 2023 23:00 , Ariana Baio

Rudy Farias’ aunt says ‘everything’s coming to light’

Thursday 6 July 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio

Pauline Sanchez Rodriguez, the stepsister of Janie Santana, told KPRC 2 that she thinks Ms Santana has been lying about Rudy Farias’ whereabouts.

“Everything’s coming out to light,” Ms Rodriguez said.

She told KPRC 2 she wanted to see if she could find her stepsister adding that she ‘fears’ for Mr Farias’ life.

“[Mr Farias] was afraid because his mom manipulated him and kept him from spending time with us, talking to us, socialising with his cousins. And that’s wrong.”

Rudy Farias was featured on a ‘Dateline’ episode

Thursday 6 July 2023 21:30 , Ariana Baio

People online are raising questions as to how 25-year-old Rudy Farias was never declared “not missing” if there had been publicity about him online.

Mr Farias, who supposedly went missing in 2015 after failing to return from a walk with his dogs, had multiple articles written about him including a Dateline story.

The story, from 2015 featured photos, information and quotes from his mother, Janie Santana.

For eight years, local and national media had released stories in the hopes of finding Mr Farias.

It wasn’t until last week when Mr Farias was “found” that neighbours sounded the alarm and said the young man was never missing.

Police say Rudy Farias is “safe” and with his mother by choice

Thursday 6 July 2023 20:50 , Ariana Baio

In a press conference on Thursday, investigators were questioned by reporters about the status of Rudy Farias whose mother lied about him being missing for eight years.

Police confirmed that Mr Farias is “safe” and “with his mother by choice.”

Several people raised alarms over Mr Farias due to allegations that his mother, Janie Santana, was abusing him. However, investigators said that Mr Farias never said this to them.

Police reminded people that Mr Farias is 25 years old can make his own decisions.

Activist doubles down on claims Rudy Farias was abused by his mother after confusing police denial

Thursday 6 July 2023 20:15 , Ariana Baio

A community activist who first aired claims that Rudy Farias was abused by his mother has doubled down after a denial by Houston police.

Quanell X, who says he was in the room with Mr Farias when he spoke to investigators on Wednesday, emerged from the meeting to tell reporters that the 25-year-old had described being hidden and subjected to abuse by his mother, Janie Santana, for eight years after she reported him missing in 2015.

Houston police officials denied this account at a press conference on Thursday, saying there was no evidence that Mr Farias was abused.

Reached by The Independent shortly after the press conference, Quanell X said: “I believe that Rudy is absolutely a victim.”

Sheila Flynn and Bevan Hurley report:

Activist doubles down on Rudy Farias abuse claims after confusing police denial

GoFundMe to search for Rudy Farias raised $2k

Thursday 6 July 2023 19:45 , Ariana Baio

Weeks after Rudy Farias was declared “missing”, a GoFundMe was created to raise money to help search for him and support his mother, Janie Santana.

“Please help us find RUDY FARIAS IV! Rudy went out to walk his 2 puppies on March 6th 2015 and has not been seen nor heard from since then ! Rudy’s 2 puppies WERE FOUND but not Rudy! He suffers from both physical and mental disabilities, so we need to get him home ASAP!” The description reads.

At the time the GoFundMe was created, Mr Farias had already returned home to his mother – police confirmed in a press conference on Thursday.

The GoFundMe, which has now been removed, is available to view with the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine feature. In a screengrab dated 8 November 2020, the GoFundMe had raised $2,025 but set a goal of $75,000.

The description continues: “[Ms Santana] needs financial assistance since she is unable to work understandably so with her son missing! The bills are pilling up and Rudy’s mother’s health has also deteriorated as she is devestated ....mentally...physically and emotionally utterly exhausted!!”

“Please dig deep into your hearts and put yourselves in Rudy’s mother place... she cannot do this Alone! Give what you can and know that God will bless you and all that you do for her! We Believe that Rudy IS STILL ALIVE AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT!”

The GoFundMe included a link to a video slideshow of Mr Farias set to slow piano music with an unknown woman’s voice asking for help looking for Mr Farias.

Watch: Quanell X tells reporters about the 'horrific things' Rudy Farias shared with him

Thursday 6 July 2023 19:30 , Ariana Baio

Rudy Farias was never missing but his mother won’t face charges for eight-year lie, police say

Thursday 6 July 2023 19:15 , Ariana Baio

Rudy Farias returned home the day after he went missing in 2015, and despite “numerous” false statements being made to police no criminal charges are currently planned, the Houston police have said.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told a press conference on Thursday that police interviews with Mr Farias and his mother Janie Santana on Wednesday had found no evidence of sexual or abuse during the eight years he was supposedly missing, despite claims by a counsellor who sat in on a police interview with Mr Farias on Wednesday.

Mr Farias, 25, was reported missing in March 2015, and an open police investigation into his disappearance continued until his mother Ms Santana said he had been discovered outside a church in Houston, Texas on 29 June.

However, Houston police said both Mr Farias and Ms Santana had claimed he was her nephew when interviewed by police.

Bevan Hurley reports:

Rudy Farias was never missing but his mother is not facing charges, police say

Quanell X doubles down on abuse allegations

Thursday 6 July 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio

Quanell X, the community activist and counsellor who first aired allegations that Mr Farias was abused by his mother Janie Santana, has doubled down on those claims after they were denied by police.

“I believe that Rudy is absolutely a victim,” Quanell X told The Independent’s Sheila Flynn shortly after Houston police said Mr Farias is not considered a victim at Thursday’s press conference.

He went on to repeat claims he made to reporters the day before after sitting in on a meeting between Mr Farias and detectives.

In that meeting, Quanell X claimed Mr Farias said he was hidden in his mother’s home and subjected to abuse for eight years after she reported him missing.

Police maintain that Mr Farias did not report abuse in the meeting, but did confirm that Mr Farias was never actually missing.

Speaking to The Independent, Quanell X accused police of “trying to hide from conducting a shady sham investigation”.

“It’s all confusing as hell to me now,” he said.

Investigation into Rudy Farias still ongoing

Thursday 6 July 2023 18:30 , Ariana Baio

After investigators in Houston revealed that Rudy Farias was never missing and contradicted previous abuse allegations, reporters shot questions at officials during a press conference.

However, authorities were unable to answer many of the pressing questions due to the investigation being ongoing.

Houston police chief Troy Finner told reporters that “Our investigation is our investigation” and “We treat it the same, everybody has a role in society and we respect everybody including our activist but the integrity of the investigation.”

Watch: Police say Rudy Farias’ mother is not facing charges for eight-year lie

Thursday 6 July 2023 18:15 , Ariana Baio

Neighbours say Rudy Farias had been living at home during eight years family claimed he was missing

Thursday 6 July 2023 18:00 , Ariana Baio

A Texas man, who reportedly vanished eight years ago and was recently found, was never actually missing, neighbours have claimed.

Andrea Blanco reports:

Neighbours say Rudy Farias was never missing as family claimed

Houston police claim Rudy Farias did not make sexual abuse allegations

Thursday 6 July 2023 17:35 , Ariana Baio

Authorities in the Houston Police Department said Rudy Farias did not make statements related to sexual abuse allegations while speaking with investigators this past week.

Police chief Troy Finner said he could not go into detail about the discussion he had with Mr Farias due to the active investigation but that no statements related to that were made.

In a bombshell allegation, local activist and counsellor Quanell X claimed Mr Farias told him and investigators that he had was allegedly drugged and abused by his mother.

Police did not outrightly dispute Quanell X’s claims but also did not confirm them.

District Attorney will not pursue charges against Rudy Farias’ mother

Thursday 6 July 2023 17:25 , Ariana Baio

Houston police confirmed that 25-year-old Rudy Farias was not missing for the eight years his mother claimed he was but said the Houston district attorney declined to pursue charges against Jamie Santana.

Ms Santana could have been charged with “making fictitious reports” or “failure to ID” but the DA chose not to make those charges.

Police could not offer a possible motive behind why Ms Santana claimed her son was missing when he was not.

Houston investigators say Rudy Farias was never missing and gave false name

Thursday 6 July 2023 17:18 , Ariana Baio

In a press conference on Thursday, investigators in the Houston Police Department confirmed that Rudy Farias was never missing and returned home the day after he was declared missing.

One investigator said over the course of eight years Mr Farias was “missing” investigators made multiple contacts with his mother, Janie Santana, and Mr Farias they were not honest about Mr Farias’ identity.

Ms Santana told investigators that Mr Farias was her nephew which police “disputed” and both Mr Farias and Ms Santana gave authorities a fake name.

Investigator who looked into Rudy Farias’ disappearance calls revelations ‘dark’

Thursday 6 July 2023 17:15 , Ariana Baio

Several private investigators who were tasked with looking into Rudy Farias’ sudden disappearance said they were skeptical of the story.

Brenda Paradise, an investigator who has been following the case for years told Insider that “something doesn’t add up.

Paradise worked on Mr Farias’ case when he originally went “missing” in 2015 as part of a network of search and rescue volunteers.

She said for years there were allegations that Mr Farias was seen in the neighbourhood.

“There’s something dark and dirty here,” Ms Paradise said.

The investigator alleges that Mr Farias’ mother, Janie Santana, initially gave investigators Mr Farias’ incorrect birth date and refused to provide recent photos of her son.

Ms Paradise claims Mr Farias was 18 years old when he went missing, not 17.

Watch: Houston Police give update on Rudy Farias investigation

Thursday 6 July 2023 17:04 , Ariana Baio

Rudy Farias’ mother says she expects to be arrested

Thursday 6 July 2023 17:00 , Ariana Baio

Rudy Farias’ mother has said she expects to be arrested after her son was reportedly “found” eight years after he was reported missing.

Mr Farias, 25, was discovered outside a church in Houston, Texas on 29 June after he reportedly went missing in 2015, his mother Janie Santana told reporters this week.

Her account has been thrown into doubt after a counsellor who interviewed Mr Farias with Houston Police Department officers told reporters he had been sexually and physically abused, and kept hidden by his mother the whole time.

Bevan Hurley and Andrea Blanco report:

Rudy Farias’ mother ays she expects to be arrested amid claims she hid him for years

Rudy Farias’ mother initially claimed her son was “non verbal”

Thursday 6 July 2023 16:40 , Ariana Baio

Janie Santana told investigators in Houston, Texas that her 25-year-old son who was found eight years after he went missing was unable to speak with investigators because he was non-verbal.

Days later, Rudy Farias spoke with investigators and a councellor where he alleged his mother had abused him.

Andrea Blanco reports:

Houston police detectives to interview Rudy Farias eight years after he went missing

Amid celebrations Rudy Farias was found, neighbours sounded alarms

Thursday 6 July 2023 16:20 , Ariana Baio

Just days after 25-year-old Rudolph “Rudy” Farias was found eight years after he went missing, neighbours questioned his disappearance.

Kisha Ross, a neighbour of Mr Farias and his mother, Janie Santana, said she had seen, and spent time, with Mr Farias in the time he was supposedly missing.

“He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son, and daughter,” Ms Ross told ABC 7. “That boy has never been missing.”

Ms Ross said that her family knew Mr Farias as “Dolph” and that he often spent time at their home, though they had not seen him recently.

Ms Santana said neighbours were likely confusing Mr Farias with her nephew but neighbours insisted the photo showed “Dolph”.

“I am confused right now,” Ms Ross said.

Another neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous to ABC 7, said he knew and saw Mr Farias living at his mother’s house for years.

"I was just shocked someone over here was missing, and we see him," the neighbour said. "It’s shocking to everyone."

Video shows Rudy Farias walking with Quanell X

Thursday 6 July 2023 16:00 , Ariana Baio

Family of Rudy Farias dispute mother’s ‘missing’ claim

Thursday 6 July 2023 15:40 , Ariana Baio

The relatives of Rudy Farias say they long disputed his mother, Janie Santana’s, claims that he was missing.

Mr Farias’ cousin, Cassandra Lopez, told KPRC2 that the family “knew in their hearts” he was never missing.

She told the Houston news station that their grandmother said she spoke to him regularly.

“She would just say, ‘I saw Rudy. You know, he came to check on me and we said hello and we had a little conversation,’” Ms Lopez said.

Rudy Farias’ mother says she expects to be arrested

Thursday 6 July 2023 15:15 , Ariana Baio

Janie Santana said she expects to be arrested after her son Rudy Farias was reportedly “found” eight years after he was reported missing.

In a video clip, obtained by KPRC 2, Ms Santana told neighbours that she is expecting to be arrested.

“When he first went missing, he didn’t report it to the police,” Ms Santana said on Wednesday as she got out of her car in front of her home.

She added: “And they are trying to say that he might have done some crimes. Which he didn’t. And now they want to arrest me. Because they said I was hiding him.”

Since Mr Farias’ bizarre “discovery” was announced earlier this week, family and neighbours have come forward to say that he was never missing.

Timeline of Rudy Farias’s disappearance and discovery

Thursday 6 July 2023 14:53 , Ariana Baio

6 March 2015 – Rudolph “Rudy” Farias IV goes “missing.”

Mr Farias was last seen while walking his dogs near Tidwell and Park Avenue in Houston around 6.30pm on 6 March 2015.

At the time of the then-17-year-old’s disappearance, information featured on a Texas EquuSearch flyer said he had been diagnosed with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety and had likely stopped taking his medication.

Mr Farias’s mother, Janie Santana local news station KHOU that she had been desperately looking for her son, and claimed that Houston police told her Mr Farias may have been abducted and sold for human trafficking.

September 2018 – A relative of Mr Farias reportedly told police they spotted him behind the missing man behind their home.

Officers responded to the scene but did not find him.

29 June 2023 – around 10pm local time, Mr Farias was found outside of a church on 76th Street at Avenue L.

A good Samaritan detected Mr Farias unresponsive and called 911.

Mr Farias showed signs of a physical assault as he had bruises and cuts all over his body. He also had dried blood on his head. Ms Santana said her son was in the hospital receiving treatment and care to “overcome his trauma” and claimed he is “nonverbal”.

She also said that Mr Farias remained disorientated and would only say a few words before shutting down and going into a foetal position.

5 July 2023- Questions about Mr Farias’s supposed disappearance arise after neighbours of Ms Santana and Mr Farias told ABC13 that he was never missing.

"He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son, and daughter," Kisha Ross said. "That boy has never been missing."

Later, investigators in the Houston police department and Houston community activist Quanell X spoke with Ms Santana and Mr Farias.

Quanell X told the media that upon speaking with Mr Farias, he believes the now-25-year-old was severely abused.

"I never heard of a mother doing to a child what this woman did," Quanell X said.

Mr Farias allegedly told Quanell X that he had been living with his mother the entire time he was “missing” and had allegedly been drugged and sexually abused by his mother.

"That boy needs to go to the best drug rehab and best psychological, mental health facility we can find for him. He’s a good kid. That kid was just severely abused."

Police to hold press conference today

Thursday 6 July 2023 14:19 , Ariana Baio

The Houston Police Department said they plan to hold a press conference regarding the disappearance and discovery of Rudy Farias today.

“We will have a news conference in this case soon after 11 a.m. (CDT) today at HPD Headquarters and will live stream the newser on our social media platforms,” Houston Police wrote.

Catch up with the Rudy Farias story

Thursday 6 July 2023 14:16 , Ariana Baio

On 29 June, Janie Santana was delivered the news any parent of a missing child yearns for. After what she says were eight long years of praying her son Rudy Farias was alive, Ms Santana got a much-anticipated call from the Hoston Police Department informing her that he had been found.

Ms Santana claimed Rudy, now 25, was badly beaten and abused, but expressed relief at the prospect of finally holding her son in her arms after years of uncertainty.

However, what appeared to be a miracle outcome against the odds is now being questioned as allegations have emerged from Ms Santana’s neighbours that her son was never missing. The Houston Police Department confirmed that an investigation into Rudy’s disappearance is underway, but detectives had not spoken with him as of Tuesday.

Andrea Blanco reports:

An 8-year search for Rudy Farias came to a miracle end. But was he really missing?