'What's Going On?' Neighbors Claim Houston Teen Found After Disappearing Eight Years Ago Was Never Really Missing

A 17-year-old Texas high school student disappeared in 2015, and officials say he was safely found eight years later — but now some are questioning if the teen was ever really missing, according to a new report.

On March 6, 2015, Rudy Farias was walking his two dogs in Houston. His family reported him missing after his dogs were recovered, but Farias was never found, according to KTRK.

The teenager had been diagnosed with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety the year of his disappearance, authorities said.

At the time,Texas EquuSearch started asking the public for help in finding Farias, who they said was possibly disoriented and hadn’t been taking his medication, KTRK reported.

The search for Farias was temporarily suspended on March 10, 2015, while authorities worked to gather more information. The search was continued two days later.

Then, on March 13, 2015, authorities thanked searchers for their commitment while looking for Farias in rain-soaked fields, and the search was suspended again, according to KTRK.

On July 2, 2023, authorities confirmed that Farias, now 25 years old, was located and is safe.

According to Farias’ mother, someone called 911 after finding him outside a church unresponsive. She said he was found with cuts and bruises all over his body and blood in his hair. She believes he was badly abused and beaten.

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Farias is recovering in the hospital and his mother told KTRK that they have tried talking to him, but he will only say a few words and then go into a fetal position.

She added it would be a long healing journey for her son, but she is thankful he has been found alive.

Now, neighbors claim Farias never disappeared.

"He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son, and daughter," one neighbor, Kisha Ross, told KTRK on July 4. "That boy has never been missing."

Ross' cousin, Broderick Conley, told the station he also hung out with Farias during the period he was reportedly missing, noting the teenager would "sometimes he would go to the park by himself."

According to KTRK, Farias' mother said the man the neighbors were referring to was her nephew — a claim they refuted.

"I am confused right now," Ross said. "I am like, 'What's going on?'"