Rudy Farias' mom kept him hidden for 8 years, police confirm
Editor’s note: This story covers allegations sexual abuse and may be disturbing to some readers.
UPDATE: Investigators with the Houston Police Department confirmed at a press conference on Thursday, July 6, that Rudolph "Rudy" Farias was not missing for eight years and was with his mother during that period. Lt. Christopher Zamora told reporters that they had multiple "interactions" with Farias during the eight years, including going to his home, but both he and his mother, Janie Santana, gave police false names.
However, the district attorney declined to bring charges forward over the false reports at this time.
Zamora also told reporters that they did not hear any reports of sexual abuse, refuting allegations made by Houston activist Quanell X, who was in the room when investigators spoke to Farias. Chief Troy Finner said that he wasn't calling Quanell X a liar and refused to answer anymore questions about the activist's claims. Zamora says the investigation is ongoing.
Zamora said that Farias returned home on March 8, 2015, one day after his mother reported him missing. Throughout the press conference, Finner refused to call Farias a victim, referring to him at one point as a "potential victim." When reporters pressed investigators on why they didn't pursue the investigation any further knowing he had returned home, Finner said he was considered an adult at the age of 17.
Investigators refused to answer questions on other claims of abuse, which only opens up more questions about the incident. Zamora said Farias, now 25, is back home with his mother by his choice, and is safe.
Original story follows below.
The case of Houston man Rudolph "Rudy" Farias, who allegedly went missing eight years ago, has taken a dramatic turn as an activist alleges that the mother kept the man hidden. Houston activist Quanell X told Houston station KTRK that Farias told him and a missing persons investigator with the Houston Police Department that his mother sexually abused and drugged him for eight years.
"That boy needs to go to the best drug rehab and best psychological, mental health facility we can find for him. He's a good kid. That kid was just severely abused," Quanell X told KTRK.
Farias' mother reported him missing when he was 17 years old, saying he disappeared while out walking his dogs. Farias was found on Saturday, July 1, in front of a church. Quanell X said Farias told him he ran away the day his mother reported him missing, but came back two days later. Farias alleges that his mom told him he would get in trouble with police if they found out he ran away, so she told him he was not allowed to leave the house.
The new allegations come days after neighbors told KTRK that Farias would come over to hang out with them, saying that he would go by "Dolph," Another neighbor claimed they would see Farias come out of the house from time to time.
Quanell X told KTRK that Farias, now 25, claims that his mother would drug and sexually abuse him, but he was afraid to go to the police.
"She had convinced him that all types of agencies were looking for him to put him in jail," Quanell X told KTRK.
Farias told Quanell X that he told his mother that he had enough, so he took her credit card and left the home. He would later be found in front of the church.
"His exact words were, 'I was tired of living like a slave,'" Quanell X told KTRK.
The Houston Police Department released a statement via Twitter on Wednesday, July 5, declining to to confirm Quanell X's allegations or the details of conversation with investigators. Investigators are also speaking to the mother. HPD will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. Thursday to discuss more details of the case.
Source: mySA
