A Texas man was discovered alive this weekend, more than eight years after he was reported missing as an 18-year-old from Houston with wounds, injuries, and blood in his hair.

The last time Rudolph Rudy Farias IV was seen was on March 6, 2015, per the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). He was 18 years old, per NamUs.

Texas Man Who Vanished as Teen Found After 8 Years

According to the group, Farias was strolling his dogs in a northeast Houston neighborhood when he vanished. His family reported him missing after recovering his dogs, but he was not located.

On Saturday, the Texas Center for the Missing announced on Twitter that Farias had been "located securely" and was recuperating in a hospital.

Someone dialed 911 after discovering Farias unresponsive outside a church, according to Farias' mother's statement to the local news station KTRK. He was covered in wounds and injuries and had blood in his hair, his mother told the station.

Farias' mother stated they attempted to communicate with him, but he would only utter a few syllables and assume the fetal position. She stated that his recovery would be long, but she is grateful he was discovered alive, as per USA Today.

Farias was diagnosed with melancholy, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety in 2015, according to authorities. Texas EquuSearch initiated a public call for assistance in locating him, noting that he may have been disoriented and had not taken his medication.

Investigators and searchers scoured through drenched fields, desperately attempting to locate the child.

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Police Did Not Suspect Foul Play

On March 10, 2015, authorities said they temporarily suspended the search for the then-17-year-old while they gathered more information. On March 12, two days later, the search continued and concluded the following day.

On March 13, 2015, authorities thanked searchers for their dedication while searching for Farias in flooded fields. Authorities verified on Sunday, July 2, 2023, that Farias had been located and was secure, although the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear.

The police said he was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. During the examination, authorities reported discovering an inhaler belonging to him. According to The Sun, his family reported that his older sibling perished in a motorcycle accident several years before he vanished.

Private investigator Brenda Paradise, who worked with the family, told NBC News, "He witnessed his closest friend perish before him. His sibling was his closest friend in the entire universe. He has experienced so much more than anyone his age should."

Police never disclosed a motive for Farias' disappearance. Throughout their investigation, officers did not suspect foul play. Farias' survival was characterized as a "miracle" by investigators who assisted in the search operation. It remains unknown where he has been.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the FBI received nearly 360,000 reports of missing children in 2022, a number that may include duplicates. 

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