Teen who went missing in 2015 while walking dogs in Texas found alive

HOUSTON — A former Pasadena High School student who went missing more than eight years ago was found alive, according to family members' social media posts and other sources.

Rudolph "Rudy" Farias IV was reported missing in March 2015 when he was 17. He was walking his two dogs in north Houston when he vanished. The two dogs were later found, but Rudy was gone.

"He has such a huge heart. He loves with all his heart," Rudy's mom told KHOU 11 in 2016. "That's why we know he wouldn't just get up and go on his own."

When Rudy disappeared, family members thought he may have been abducted and sold for human trafficking. They were also concerned because Rudy suffered from anxiety, depression and was an asthmatic who didn't have his inhaler.

While we don't know the details of Rudy's disappearance, HPD Missing Persons Division and Texas EquuSearch founder Tim Miller both also confirmed to KHOU 11 that Rudy was found alive.

Rudy's aunt told KHOU 11 that his mom is distraught after her son was found and that the mother would be making a public statement soon.

Editor's note: A previous version of this article reported that Rudy was 18 when he went missing but it was updated after we learned new information.

Below was the story we ran in 2016, one year after Rudy's disappearance

What to do when someone goes missing

Thousands of people go missing every year across the United States, and there are organizations and law enforcement agencies that work to bring them home to loved ones.

The Texas Center for the Missing is an organization with Houston roots that works to educate loved ones and authorities on finding the lost. 

From resources that deal with missing children to endangered adults, the non-profit organization has compiled a wealth of resources to help.