Neighbors of a Houston man who was found alive after vanishing as a teen eight years ago have questioned whether the 25-year-old had ever really been missing — claiming they often saw him around the community.
Kisha Ross and her family were shocked to hear reports that Rudy Farias was located because they never knew he had been reported missing in 2015, according to KTRK.
“He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son and daughter,” Ross told the news outlet, which cited civil court records that indicate Farias’ mother lives on the same street in northeast Houston
“That boy has never been missing,” the neighbor said, adding that he “would go to the park by himself” at times.
Ross’ cousin, Broderick Conley, said he and Farias would hang out often and had “laughing good times.”
The neighbors — who know Farias as Dolph, short for Rudolph – told KTRK that he had visited their home often but that they had not seen him in the past few weeks.
Another neighbor told the station that he has seen Farias living at his mom’s home for years.
“I was just shocked someone over here was missing — and we see him. It’s shocking to everyone,” the neighbor, who spoke anonymously, told the outlet.
Farias was found beaten and bruised outside of a church Thursday by a Good Samaritan who called 911, according to his mother, Janie Santana.
Farias was still wearing the necklace of his brother — who died in a 2011 motorcycle accident – and was nonverbal, she said.
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“My son Rudy is receiving the care he needs to overcome his trauma, but at this time, he is nonverbal and not able to communicate with us,” his mom told The Post in a statement provided by the Texas Center for the Missing.
Santana added that the family did not have any additional details about the case or where Farias has been since 2015.
At the time of his disappearance, he suffered from depression, PTSD and anxiety, Texas EquuSearch said in 2015, adding that he may have been disoriented after not taking his meds.
On Tuesday, Santana claimed the man her neighbors have spent time with and seen living with her is her nephew, according to the outlet.
The mother showed KTRK a photograph of the person, but the neighbors said that’s not him.
“I do not know. That’s what I have been trying to figure out all day,” Ross said. “I am confused right now. I am like, ‘What’s going on?’”
On Monday, police said there was an apparent sighting of Farias by his family in 2018 — though cops didn’t find him after receiving a tip that he had been living behind a relative’s home.
Authorities did not believe foul play was involved when he was first reported missing.
Texas EquuSearch director Tim Miller has called the young man’s reappearance miracle.
“How did this happen? We believe in miracles and this certainly was a miracle,” Miller said. “I can’t even tell you how many times we searched and how many leads and tips came in and they just kind of faded away and now all of a sudden, this.”
