Missing Person Photos
A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are unknown. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2 to 5 percent of missing children in Europe.
By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends.
A number of organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and images of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece.
Resources for Missing Persons
According to current statistics, 4,000 people in the United States go missing every day.
Sometimes a child suddenly vanishes from the bus stop or the local park or even from their own yard or bedroom. Or a teenager doesn�t return home after a walk to the neighborhood grocery store or a bike ride or a party with friends.
Other times, an adult is mysteriously absent from their job or neighbors haven�t seen them for several days, and family and friends haven�t heard from them either.
Missing Person Photos
Abigail Estrada
Abigail, date, approximate 2007; Age-progression to age 17 (date, approximate 2010); Ruben Torres, date, approximate 2007
Date Missing 06/16/2007
Missing From
Harlingen, Texas
Missing Classification Endangered Missing
Sex Female
Race
Hispanic
Date of Birth 10/06/1993 (29)
Age 13 years old
Height and Weight 5'0, 100 pounds
Clothing/Jewelry Description A black tank top or muscle shirt, tan striped shorts and slippers imprinted with the cartoon character Winnie the Pooh.
Markings and/or Distinguishing Characteristics Hispanic female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Abigail's hair was dyed black at the time of her disappearance. She has a tattoo of the name "Shawn" on her ankle, a mole on the upper left side of her chest, and a scar below her right earlobe. Her nickname is Abby.
Details of Disappearance Abigail was last seen leaving her home in Harlingen, Texas on June 16, 2007. She has never been heard from again. She left her residence with her 16-year-old boyfriend, Ruben Torres Jr., and has never been heard from again. A photograph of Torres is posted with this summary. He later stated he dropped Abigail off at a street corner near her home.
Her loved ones did not believe she would have run away and stated that even if she had, she would have worn something other than slippers and would have taken extra clothing. All of Abigail's personal belongings were left behind when she vanished. Her parents knew she was seeing Ruben and had consented to their relationship, as had Ruben's parents.
In August 2007, Torres was charged with capital murder in Abigail's . He was arrested when he made a court appearance for other, unrelated charges that were brought against him before Abigail went missing. Authorities stated Abigail was a witness in a juvenile felony against Torres.
The murder charge was dropped for lack of evidence several months later, but Ruben remained incarcerated for other crimes until March 2009. In August 2015, eight years after his initial arrest, Ruben was charged with Abigail's murder a second time.
Torres was charged as an adult. His trial began in January 2017, and his friend testified that Torres told them he killed Abigail because she had told the police about his involvement in a drive-by shooting. After only one day of testimony, he pleaded guilty to capital murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. With credit for time served, and time off for good behavior, he could be released in as little as ten years.
Although Abigail has never been located, foul play is suspected in her disappearance due to the circumstances involved.
Investigating Agency
Harlingen Police Department
956-216-5940
Other
The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
The Polly Klaas Foundation
Texas Department of Public Safety
The Brownsville Herald
MyFox Rio
The Monitor
KRGV NewsChannel 5
Unsolved in the News
Valley Central
Missing Person Photos
A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are unknown. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2 to 5 percent of missing children in Europe.
By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends.
A number of organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and images of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece.
Resources for Missing Persons
According to current statistics, 4,000 people in the United States go missing every day.
Sometimes a child suddenly vanishes from the bus stop or the local park or even from their own yard or bedroom. Or a teenager doesn�t return home after a walk to the neighborhood grocery store or a bike ride or a party with friends.
Other times, an adult is mysteriously absent from their job or neighbors haven�t seen them for several days, and family and friends haven�t heard from them either.
Missing Person Photos
