When Rudy Farias showed up outside a church in Houston, Texas last week, eight years after his mother reported him missing, the country hailed it as a miracle.
But questions soon surfaced about the strange allegations surrounding the disappearance of the now 25-year-old – neighbors and a community activist claimed it never happened at all.
Rudy and his mother Janie Santana finally sat down with investigators and mediator Quanell X on Wednesday to set out their perspective, and what emerged after the meeting shocked the nation.
Quanell told reporters that Rudy, who Janie had claimed was nonverbal, had been sexually abused and hidden by his mother for the past eight years – saying she let him sleep naked in bed with her and “made him do it.” to play dad”. ‘
As the public awaits responses from Houston authorities, who are scheduled to speak to the press Thursday morning, is exploring the unanswered questions in the case.
Rudy Farias was reported missing in 2015 and was reportedly found last week. But his neighbors say he has never been missing at all
Those following the case were shocked to learn that Rudy had left with his mother on Wednesday following a meeting with investigators
Santana was not arrested after Quanell revealed to the press the horrific allegations Rudy allegedly confessed to him
WHERE IS JANIE SANTANA NOW?
Santana was not arrested after Quanell revealed to the press the horrific allegations Rudy allegedly confessed to him.
The mother and son were pictured leaving the hotel and apparently walked home together after speaking to police. However, her current whereabouts remain unclear.
Police declined to provide further information as to why she was not arrested and is expected to answer questions at 11:00 a.m. EST.
While a neighbor told KHOU11 that she was seen leaving her home in the early hours of Thursday morning – prompting the local resident to call 911 – other sources say the couple did not return to their home after meeting police on Wednesday returned to Houston.
As a result, there was a heavy police presence in front of the house this morning.
Why did Rudy go to his mother after the reported abuse allegations?
Those following the case were shocked to learn that Rudy had left with his mother on Wednesday following a meeting with investigators.
However, a neighbor has since told KHOU11 that Janie Santana was spotted leaving her home in the early hours of Thursday morning – prompting the local resident to call 911.
As a result, there was a heavy police presence in front of the house this morning.
As of Thursday morning, it wasn’t immediately clear if Santana and her son were at their Houston home.
Why didn’t Rudy’s family and neighbors step in when they knew he wasn’t missing?
Rudy’s neighbors said he was never missing, leading many to question why no one ever contacted authorities about the false missing persons report.
“He used to come into my garage and chill with my cousin, my son and my daughter,” said neighbor Kisha Ross.
Ross claimed that despite billboards with Rudy’s pictures around Houston, she had never heard that Rudy, known as Dolph, had disappeared, which would explain why she never contacted the police.
Meanwhile, a cousin of Rudy’s said she contacted police in 2018 to report that Rudy was “behind an apartment building,” but when police showed up, she couldn’t find Rudy.
In addition, Farias’ cousin said she told police in 2018 that he had been at his mother’s house and that his grandmother had seen and spoken to him. The boy’s aunt said she also knew he was not missing.
Cassandra Lopez, his cousin, told KPRC 2 that they always knew “in our hearts” that the story of Farias’ disappearance was not true.
She said: “I was in shock. I thought I couldn’t believe it. I mean, I was glad, but I just wondered what would come of it.
“What was the story behind it? Because we just always knew in our hearts that he wasn’t really missed.’
A neighbor claimed that despite billboards with Rudy’s pictures around Houston, she never heard that Rudy, known as Dolph, had disappeared
Rudolph Farias III, 51, who had been a police officer for 21 years, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound (left). Years earlier, Rudy’s brother Charles had died in a car accident
Who was Rudy’s brother and how did he die?
Rudy Farias, now 25, was just 13 when his big brother and “best friend” Charles died in the tragic car accident.
Charles died in a motorcycle accident on February 13, 2011. The young teenager and his mother Janie were two of the first people to reach the scene of the accident, and Rudy watched Charles die before his eyes, according to the family.
“He’s just been put through so much over the last few years,” Brenda Paradise, a private investigator investigating Rudy’s disappearance, told Dateline in 2015.
“He watched his best friend die right before his eyes.” His brother was his best friend in the world. He just went through so much more than anyone his age should ever go through.
Who was Rudy’s father and how did he die?
Rudolph Farias III, 51, who had been a police officer for 21 years, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a police parking garage on the outskirts of downtown Houston. He was still in uniform and in a squad car at the time.
A day before his death, Farias, who had been married to Janie for 17 years, was relieved of his police duties pending the outcome of an internal investigation into allegations that he and three other officers were involved in an alleged traffic ticketing scheme.
The four officers were accused of enlisting each other as witnesses to traffic demonstrations in order to earn overtime by appearing in court.
Rudy’s mother was devastated by the loss of his brother and father and claimed he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.
A missing persons flyer from the time said the grieving teenager tried to commit suicide before disappearing while walking his two dogs around the block in east Houston.
Was any money donated to Rudy’s family after his alleged disappearance?
Four private investigators who worked on Rudy’s disappearance spoke to Insider and raised concerns about Santana’s fundraising efforts over the years.
Ryan Grayson said Santana’s story had many red flags, including the false claim that a woman held Rudy in Mexico.
There were fundraisers for the search for Rudy, but according to Grayson Santana
“She was late for the fundraiser,” he claimed. “And she wasn’t going around greeting people who were donating money or attending the fundraiser.”
Additionally, a GoFundMe account created for medical expenses after Rudy was found at church was deleted after people began questioning Santana.
Why did the police question Rudy and his mother at a hotel?
Santana, Rudy, activist Quanell X and investigators met at a Houston hotel rather than at the police station, sparking even more questions from the public.
In an off-camera interview, Santana told FOX 26 that she was concerned for her safety after people began to question her claims.
WHO IS QUANELL X?
Many observers have wondered what role community activist Quanell X played in the meeting between Janie, Rudy and the police.
Quanell is a controversial Houston figure known for speaking out on behalf of victims of police brutality, unfair evictions and racial discrimination.
He was brought in to mediate Wednesday’s meeting between the mother and son and the police.
The civil rights activist is a member of the People’s New Black Panther Party and has been accused of taking money from vulnerable people he allegedly helped, the Houston Chronicle reports.