Marisol Avila Missing: 14-year-old Houston Girl Found
by Sakthi | Updated May 30, 2023
Marisol Avila Missing
Marisol Avila, a 14-year-old girl who had been reported missing after her last sighting at a Houston ISD campus on Monday, has been discovered, according to the Texas DPS. On Tuesday night, an Amber Alert was issued for Marisol Avila. Jeff Ehling, a reporter from ABC 13, interviewed Marisol's mother, who confirmed that her daughter was found in the Fifth Ward area and subsequently taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation.
Two individuals were reportedly questioned in connection with the incident. Authorities in Houston had been treating Marisol's disappearance as an abduction. She was last seen at 9:23 a.m. on Monday at Marshall Middle School, located on Houston's northside at 1115 Noble St. According to family friends, Marisol's phone and personal belongings were discovered in her locker, and her social media accounts were no longer active.
Missing 14-Year-Old Girl has Been Found
Authorities confirmed on Wednesday morning that the 14-year-old girl who had been reported missing had been found. No additional details regarding the circumstances of her discovery have been disclosed by law enforcement. The police department is leading the investigation into the case, but several questions remain unanswered.
It is unclear where Marisol was found, whether any arrests were made, and why the alert was issued approximately 36 hours after her last sighting. When asked about these inquiries, a district spokesperson declined to provide specific answers, citing an ongoing investigation and invoking the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA is a federal law designed to safeguard the privacy of student's educational records.
It is important to note that the police matter is unrelated to educational records, and no response was received regarding this discrepancy. This incident reflects a recurring issue highlighted by our investigative team in previous cases involving other school districts. When seeking information about criminal matters investigated by their respective police forces, school districts often submit public information requests to the Texas Attorney General's Office for an opinion, and they typically receive favorable rulings, which prevent the media from accessing the requested information.
Before her daughter was located, Marisol's mother made a plea to the public, stating in Spanish, "Neighbours, gas stations, anyone who might have seen her, please speak with the police so that she can come back home. We are waiting for her, her sisters, and her father. We simply want her to return. We want her to be with us again." HISD, while not providing many specifics, did release a statement on Wednesday morning affirming their commitment to taking such situations seriously and prioritizing the safety of their students.
What Happened to Amber?
The whereabouts of Amber, the missing girl, have raised questions. The Texas Department of Public Safety shared a generic photo of a vehicle they were seeking in connection with her disappearance. The vehicle in question is a 1990 tan Subaru Forester with Texas license plates; however, the specific license plate number remains unknown.
Eyewitness News discovered that the gold Subaru belongs to a woman named Leticia. According to her, on Monday morning, her 14-year-old neighbor asked her to pick up Marisol from Marshall Middle School, and she obliged. "I brought them back, and they entered the house," Leticia said in Spanish on Wednesday morning. "That was all." Leticia mentioned that the teenager and her mother moved in next door approximately three months ago.
However, she did not disclose the reason why the boy requested her assistance in picking up Marisol from school or elaborate on their relationship. "On Tuesday, around 6 p.m., I heard about the Amber Alert, and I saw my car mentioned in it," Leticia stated. "It stated that the girl was last seen in a car resembling mine. That's when I called the police to inform them that the girl was here." According to Leticia, the boy's mother visited her residence after the issuance of the Amber Alert and explained that Marisol had been at their home until the alert was issued.
"When the girl heard the Amber Alert, the boy's mother told me she ran off into the street," Leticia recalled. Upon contacting the police, Leticia informed them of the situation. Officers subsequently arrived on her street in the Fifth Ward and took the 14-year-old boy in for questioning, but he was later released. Leticia mentioned that she accompanied the boy's mother to pick him up around 2 a.m. She clarified that no one from her street has been arrested or charged about the case.
Amber Alert for 14-Year-Old
After being missing for nine months, a 14-year-old girl was discovered in Columbus on Wednesday morning in the company of a 41-year-old man. The U.S. Marshals Service's Missing Child Unit in Cleveland collaborated with Cuyahoga County Job and Family Services (CCJFS) to locate and safely recover the 14-year-old girl, Trinee Washington.
Trinee Washington had been under the custody and care of CCJFS before her disappearance on Saturday, July 9, 2022. Following an investigation into her disappearance, conducted jointly by the U.S. Marshals from Northern and Southern Ohio, authorities were led to the 2200 block of Jermain Drive in Columbus, according to a spokesperson from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Upon entering the residence to retrieve the missing child, officials discovered her in the presence of a 41-year-old man. The man's identity and his relationship with the missing girl were not disclosed, but local authorities are currently investigating him, and charges may be filed. "The relentless efforts of our Missing Child Unit, in collaboration with local law enforcement, led to the successful recovery of this 14-year-old girl. Every day mattered in this case, and we can now find solace in the knowledge that she is safe," stated U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott.
During the time of her disappearance, Marisol's phone and personal belongings were discovered in her locker, and her social media accounts were inactive. Following her failure to contact her parents, an Amber Alert was issued on Tuesday evening. Before her discovery, Marisol's mother made an emotional plea to the public, urging anyone who may have seen her daughter to come forward and speak with the police. "Neighbours, gas stations, anyone who might have sighted her, please reach out to the police so that she can come back home. We are waiting for her, her sisters, and her dad. Our sole desire is to have her return to us," expressed the grieving mother in Spanish.
Marisol Avila Missing: FAQs
The U.S. Marshals Service's Missing Child Unit in Cleveland worked in collaboration with Cuyahoga County Job and Family Services (CCJFS) to find and safely recover the girl.
The girl was missing for a period of nine months before she was discovered.
The girl was found in Columbus, according to officials from the U.S. Marshals Service department.
The identity of the 41-year-old man and his relation to the missing girl have not been released by authorities. However, he remains under investigation by local authorities, and charges are pending.
The missing girl was safely returned to Cuyahoga County Job and Family Services (CCJFS).