Residents in Northeast Houston have been left baffled after learning that a local 25-year-old man was found alive - even though they never knew he was missing.
Rudolph 'Rudy' Farias was first reported missing in 2015, when he was 17 years old and went for a walk with his dogs but, according to his mom, never returned.
On Thursday (29 June), police received a report of someone sleeping outside a church in Houston, Texas. He had the ID of a family member with him, so police were able to identify him as the same Rudy Farias who had gone missing in 2015.
Farias refused to be transported by ambulance, according to the chief of the Houston Fire Department, and he was left in his family's care.
Advert
The Texas Center for Missing shared the news that Farias had been found, posting a statement on behalf of the family which read: "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."
Advert
However, when Kisha Ross and her family, who live near Farias' mother, heard that Farias had been found, they were shocked.
As far as they knew, he'd never been missing - he'd even allegedly been to their home.
Ross explained: "He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son, and daughter. That boy has never been missing."
Advert
The family knew Farias as Dolph, short for Rudolph, but said it had been a few weeks since they'd last seen him.
Ross' cousin, Broderick Conley, also claimed that he and Farias would often hang out together, while another neighbor claimed he's seen Farias living at his mother's home for years.
"I was just shocked someone over here was missing, and we see him," they said. "It's shocking to everyone."
Farias' mother has stood by the claim that her son has been missing, telling ABC13's Brooke Taylor that she believed her son had been beaten and abused, and that he'd been the victim of a kidnapping.
Advert
She further claimed that the man the neighbors have spent time with is her nephew, but when she shared a picture of the man neighbors argued it wasn't the same person they'd seen over the last few years.
Police are scheduled to speak with Farias today (5 July), for the first time since he was found outside the church.
Emily Brown