Missing Melvin Eduardo Turcios Cedillo Melvin, approximately 2005 Date reported missing : 06/17/2005 Missing location (approx) : Brownsville, Texas Missing classification : Migrant Gender : Male Ethnicity : Hispanic DOB : 05/31/1989 (32) Age at the time of disappearance: 16 years old Height / Weight : 4'10 - 5'0, 110 - 120 pounds Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos : Hispanic male. Black hair, brown eyes. Melvin has a scar on the side of his face, near his ear. He speaks only Spanish and his nickname is Chente. Melvin is from Honduras. Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Melvin was last seen in Brownsville, Texas on June 17, 2005. His mother had traveled to the United States to work when Melvin was eleven years old, and settled in Virginia. She sent money home for her children, who lived with relatives, and began sending for the children one by one. Melvin attempted to emigrate to the United States at Age at the time of disappearance: fifteen, but was caught at the border and returned to his native Honduras. In June 2005, Melvin tried to travel to the U.S. again. He was traveling with some other migrant men. His younger sisters had been caught at the border, so his mother told him to try to cross over the desert. A few days later, one of the Honduran "coyotes," or human smugglers, called Melvin's mother. The coyote stated they had crossed the border at Brownsville, Texas, but Melvin was sick and they were leaving him behind there. Melvin was allowed to speak to his mother and said he thought he was dying. She never heard from him again. The Texas/Mexico border is arid and very dangerous to cross without proper training and equipment; many migrants die every year trying to cross over. Melvin's disappearance remains unsolved; Texas police are investigating. Other information and links : ncy Brownsville Police Department 956-548-7000 September 2021 updates and sources Texas Department of Public Safety The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children The Roanoke Times 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 not known. 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�5% 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. Several organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and imAge at the time of disappearance: s 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. October 12, 2004. October 22, 2010; Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos : updated. |