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Missing DeAngelo Marquis McNeil 
DeAngelo, approximately 1997; Age at the time of disappearance: -progression to Age at the time of disappearance: 19 (approximately 2013) Date reported missing : 04/17/1997 Missing location (approx) : Houston, Texas Missing classification : Endangered Missing Gender : Male Ethnicity : Hispanic DOB : 06/01/1994 (27) Age at the time of disappearance: 2 years old Height / Weight : 3'0, 28 pounds Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos : Hispanic male. Black hair, brown eyes. Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : DeAngelo was last seen at his family's residence in Houston, Texas on April 17, 1997. He has never been heard from again. DeAngelo was taken into state custody at Age at the time of disappearance: seven months, when his mother, Patricia McNeil, was convicted of theft and sent to prison. After her release, she got permission to visit DeAngelo and his brother. In December 1996, the boys were permitted to live with her, though they remained officially wards of the court. In March 1997, child welfare workers noticed a bruise on DeAngelo's face. Patricia told them he had accidentally fallen, but they suspected abuse and called DeAngelo's day care center for information. In mid-April 1997, Patricia removed DeAngelo from the day care center. He has not been seen or heard from since. When asked about his whereabouts, she claimed he was with Manuel Ferreira, whom she said was his father. Ferreira is a native of the Dominican Republic and resided in the Memorial area of Houston in 1997. Patricia said she did not have his address or telephone number. She gave police a pageheaderr number, which turned out to belong to someone unconnected to DeAngelo's case. Investigators eventually located Ferreira in the Dominican Republic; he had fled to there after jumping bond on a cocaine charge. He did not have the child with him, did not know where he was, and said he wasn't DeAngelo's father. That, and information gleaned in interviews with relatives, friends and acquaintances of Patricia and Ferreira led police to believe Patricia's story was false. DeAngelo's brother told investigators that he had seen his mother beat DeAngelo with a belt. Patricia was later sentenced to 75 years in prison for abusing DeAngelo. Ferreira testified against her at the trial. She appealed her conviction but the appeal was denied. Foul play is suspected in DeAngelo's case. Police believe Patricia may have killed him. She has not been charged with any wrongdoing in connection with his disappearance, however, and the child's case remains unsolved. Some Age at the time of disappearance: ncies classify DeAngelo's case as a non-family abduction. Other information and links : ncy Harris County District Attorney's Office 713-599-5808 September 2021 updates and sources The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Child Protection Education of America Texas Department of Public Safety NewsLibrary North American Missing Persons Network The Houston Chronicle Updated 7 times since October 12, 2004. September 2, 2013; Age at the time of disappearance: -progression updated. |