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 Case Updates with Photos

Nicholas Andrew Plaza
missing 2023 updates

Nicholas, date, approximate 2001; Age-progression to age 18 (date, approximate 2014); Priscilla Plaza; Ruben Zavala
Date Missing 10/23/2001
Missing From
San Antonio, Texas
Missing Classification Endangered Missing
Sex Male
Race
Hispanic
Date of Birth 02/26/1996 (26)
Age 5 years old
Height and Weight 3'1 - 3'6, 30 - 40 pounds
Medical Conditions Nicholas may be in need of medical attention.
Markings and/or Distinguishing Characteristics Hispanic male. Brown hair, brown eyes. Nicholas's nickname is Nicky. He has a light brown birthmark below his navel and silver caps on several of his teeth.
Details of Disappearance Nicholas was last seen at his family's residence in the 100 block of Rock Valley in San Antonio, Texas on October 23, 2001. He resided there with his mother, Priscilla Ann Plaza; her boyfriend, Ruben Zavala Jr.; and Zavala's mother, Celia Ramos. He has never been heard from again. He was not reported missing until November 21.
After Nicholas went missing, Zavala gave an interview with the media where he stated that the child was deceased and that he and Priscilla were both to blame for his death, as they did not get medical attention for him.
Zavala stated that he and Priscilla had wrapped Nicholas's body in garbage bags and placed it in a garbage bin behind a bank. He told investigators that Nicholas had been sick for months and one night he simply stopped breathing and could not be revived.
Zavala led authorities to the alley along Rock Valley Drive where he claimed he had disposed of the boy's remains, but nothing was found there in spite of an extensive search.
Court documents stated that Nicholas had been "tortured" and sexually abused for months before his presumed death. Zavala told police that Priscilla was an alcoholic and an unfit parent; Priscilla stated that Zavala had abused Nicholas physically and sexually and would not let her get medical help for the child.
Priscilla ended her relationship with Zavala after Nicholas vanished and moved out of the home she shared with him. In 2006, Zavala was first charged with abusing Nicholas, then with murdering him.
Priscilla was charged with injury to a child by omission. She later pleaded guilty to the charges against her and agreed to testify against Zavala. She admitted she knowingly failed to protect her son from Zavala's abuse.
Prosecutors decided not to try Zavala for Nicholas's murder; instead, he was tried for injury to a child, which is easier to prove.
In her testimony at Zavala's trial in the summer of 2007, Priscilla stated the last time she saw Nicholas he was in very poor physical condition: he could not walk due to an ankle injury, his hair was falling out, his genitals were blue-colored and swollen, red spots covered his body and he appeared to be pale and weak. Priscilla stated she wanted to take her son to a hospital, but Zavala convinced her not to.
Priscilla said she and Zavala went to the movies together, and when they returned, Ramos told her Child Protective Services (CPS) had taken Nicholas to a hospital. Priscilla did not report her son missing for over a month because she says she believed Ramos's story.
CPS had not, in fact, taken custody of Nicholas, and Ramos denies telling Priscilla they had. Ramos stated she was unaware of the child's absence for several weeks, although he lived with her, and confirmed that he had been very sick prior to going missing.
Zavala was convicted of injury to a child in July 2007 and was sentenced to 67 years in prison. Priscilla got 20 years in prison.
Nicholas has never been found, but foul play is suspected in his due to the circumstances involved.
Investigating Agency
San Antonio Police Department
210-207-7662
Other
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Texas Department of Public Safety
San Antonio Police Department
The Heidi Search Center
The San Antonio Express-News
KSAT San Antonio
WOAI San Antonio News