It was originally reported that a Houston man who had been missing for eight years was found at a church a few miles from his home. A few days later, police reported that the man had actually been at home the whole time, for the most part. On July 3, NBC reported that "a good Samaritan" discovered the missing man, Rudolph "Rudy" Farias IV, 25. He was found unresponsive, according to his family.
On July 6, NBC reported that authorities said the man was never truly missing. Reports from neighbors make the case even more confusing.
According to NBC, some neighbors say they never saw Rudy again after he was reported missing in 2015. Other neighbors said they saw him on a regular basis and never knew he was "missing."
One neighbor, John Richardson, 80, said Rudy used to visit his house when he was a child, but after 2015, he never saw him again and every time he talked to Rudy's mother, he would ask about her son only to get the same response each time: "She would start crying and say they haven’t found him, and it would hurt me."
Jeanay Wyble, 24, another neighbor, said she never knew Rudy was missing because he regularly visited her house, also noting that he's "depressed all the time."
Rudy was reported missing by his mom on March 7, 2015. Authorities now say that he actually went back home the following day and was not missing for eight years.
NBC also reported that police officers had interacted with Rudy during the period of time in which he was "missing," but Rudy allegedly provided fake names and birth dates.
"In fact, both Rudy's mother, and Rudy himself gave fictitious names while interacting with various patrol officers. After investigators talked with him yesterday, it was discovered that he returned home the following day, on March 8, 2015," Houston police Lt. Christopher Zamora said.
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Police also said that the man was seen by many people over the years, but claimed to be a nephew rather than his mother's missing son.
They added that his mother had insisted that Rudy was still missing, and they don't know what her motive was.
Pauline Sanchez, the man's aunt, said she saw Rudy for the first time in eight years on July 6.
"He’s doing well but plans to stay away from his mother," she said.
Sanchez said she didn't ask her nephew for many details about the case.
"I still feel that he’s traumatized and gone through a lot. I still feel action should be taken," she said. "He doesn’t want to see his mom and doesn’t want to go back to his mom.”
