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Have you seen them? Texas children that have been missing, unidentified for over 45 years
TYLER, Texas (KETK)– According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NMEC), 15 Texas children are still missing or are unidentified between the years 1958 to 1979.
These missing children haven't been seen or heard from for over 45 years, meaning many of them would be elderly if found in 2025.
LIST: 20 Tyler cold homicide cases police are still trying to solve
KETK news has compiled a list of unsolved missing person cases across Texas that authorities still need to solve to bring closure to their families.
Missing since: Sept. 6, 1958 in Goliad
Contact: Goliad County Sherriff's Office at 361-645-3541
Age now: Myrisha, 70 and A.J., 67
Myrisha went missing at 3-years-old while A.J. went missing at 1-years-old. A.J.'s thumbs are clubbed at the ends and he has a birthmark on his upper eyelid and below his lower lip.
According to the nonprofit Doe Network, the children's father A.J. Campbell picked them up at their mother's home in Goliad on Sept. 6, 1958. Their father was later found dead by suicide in a car north of Austin and the night before he had called a minister claiming he killed and buried the children. The nonprofit said he also left behind a suicide note to his wife that said he had buried the children and he would join them soon.
Missing since: Sept. 6, 1970 in Grand Prairie
Contact: Grand Prairie Police Department at 972-237-8790
Age now: 70
Brewer was 15-years-old when she went missing and she has a scar on the underside of her left arm, the side of chest and her torso. According to The Doe Network, it was believed Brewer ran off with a boyfriend.
Missing since: Jan. 14, 1973 in Dallas
Contact: Dallas Police Department at 214-671-4268
Age now: 68
Search continues for missing Smith County woman 2 years later
NMEC said at 16-years-old, Prater was last seen leaving his home and said he would be back shortly but never returned. He has not been seen or heard from ever since.
Date found: Aug. 9, 1973 in Houston
Estimated age: 15 to 18-years-old
Contact: Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences at 713-796-6858
The remains of an unidentified teen boy were found in Houston on Aug. 9, 1973 and based on the condition of his remains, he was likely dead for 12 months prior to the recovery.
According to NCMEC, John Houston Doe is the last known unidentified victim of Dean Arnold Corll (the candy man), who abducted and murdered at least 29 young men in the Houston area between 1970 and 1973.
John Houston Doe's features according to examiners:
White, possibly Hispanic admixture
Brown hair around 7 inches in length from the crown
Mild form of spina bifida which may have caused lower back pain or possibly affect his stride, however it may have not caused noticeable symptoms
The clothing the John Houston Doe was found in includes the following:
Courtesy of NCMEC
'He was also found with dark blue corduroys with a 32-inch waist and a 30-inch inseam, a knotted leather ankle bracelet, and brown leather cowboy boots that were 12 inches in length and had the word 'NEOLITE' on the heel,' NCMEC said.
Missing since: Sept. 11, 1974 in Gilmer
Contact: Gilmer Police Department at 903-843-5545
Age now: 66
VANISHED: Danny Lee Jones
Jones went missing at 15-years-old and authorities believe he may have left of his own accord. He also has a scar on his right arm.
Missing since: Sept. 9, 1974 in El Paso
Contact: El Paso County Sheriff's Office at 915-538-2217
Age now: 52
Hurtado was last seen at 20-months-old walking to his grandmothers house in 1974 while his mom was washing the family vehicle. NCMEC said a neighbor saw an unidentified blue car in the area which disappeared the same time as Hurtado.
Hurtado has a birthmark near his right kidney, has club feet and he was wearing brown orthopedic shoes when taken. If his condition is not treated, he will have severe pigeon-toed feet.
Missing since: Dec. 23, 1974 in Fort Worth
Contact: Fort Worth Police Department at 817-335-4222
Age now: Moseley, 60, Trlica, 67 and Wilson, 64
Moseley, Trlica and Wilson were last seen at the Seminary South Shopping Center just two days before Christmas eve in 1974.
According to the Doe Network, the three girls were Christmas Shopping and Trlica's car, an Oldsmobile was found locked in the parking lot with the keys gone, there were no signs of struggle and a wrapped present was on the backseat floorboard.
A few days later, a letter from Trlica arrived at the home of her husband, Thomas that said the following:
'I know I'm going to catch it, but we just had to get away. We're going to Houston. See you in about a week. The car is in Sear's upper lot. Love Rachel.'
'The letter was written by a right-handed person while Trlica's was left-handed, handwriting experts are uncertain who wrote the letter; their tests were inconclusive,' The Doe Network said. 'Trlica's own name was also misspelled. While initially the letter was thought to have been mailed from Eliasville in Young County, the U.S. Postal Service has determined that it was mailed in Fort Worth, Texas. Foul play is possible and the case is still actively investigated.'
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Moseley has a small scar under her left eye, a scar in the middle of her forehead and a scar on her calf. Trlica has a chipped upper front tooth and a small scar on her chin. Wilson has a scar on her thigh.
Missing since: July 12, 1977 in San Benito
Contact: San Benito Police Department at 956-361-3880
Age now: 52
According to The Doe Network, Montelongo went outside to play on July 12 and hasn't been seen since. His mom reported him missing to police that afternoon.
'Investigators and emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to search the area,' the nonprofit said. 'Moments later a San Benito resident reported that he had seen the small boy walking down Alamo Street, however, nothing was found after officers combed the area. Neighbors were interviewed and leads were followed, but no information revealed Montelongo's whereabouts.'
The nonprofit explained that police learned that Montelongo liked to play near a drainage ditch close to his house and at the time he went missing, the water level at the ditch was high raising the possibility that the current swept him away. 'Another possibility is that he wandered away and someone picked him up,' the nonprofit said.
Date found: Feb. 13, 1978 in Fresno
Estimated age: 17 to 25-years-old
Contact: Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office at 281-342-6116 or Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences at 713-796-6819
On Feb. 13, 1978 the skeletal remains of an unidentified young white man were found in a wooded area between Texas 288 and the railroad tracks in Fresno. Officials suspect he had been dead for around three to five months before he was found.
John Fresno Doe's features and clothing according to examiners:
Slender build
Light brown hair
One deciduous (baby) lower right molar
Extensive dental work to his upper right first molar
Likely had a root canal procedure within twelve months of his death
Majority of his teeth exhibited signs of decay, and he had a dental abscess that may have caused him discomfort
Date found: April 28, 1979 in Houston
Estimated age: 15 to 20-years-old
Contact: Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences at 713-796-6819 or Houston Police Department at 713-308-3616
On April 28, 1979, the body of an unidentified young man was found lying on the sidewalk on the 2100 block of Cochran Street in Houston and he had died shortly before his body was found.
John Houston Doe's features and clothing according to examiners:
Short black hair around four inches in length
Think black mustache above his upper lip
Burn scar on his upper left arm
The clothing the John Houston Doe was found in:
Long sleeve orange shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows
Brown trousers with no back pockets
Size six and a half black harness boots
Missing since: May 11, 1979 in Bryan
Contact: Bryan Police Department at 979-361-3888
Age now: 62
Moreno was last seen at her home in Bryan at 16-years-old on May 11 but has not been seen or heard from since. According to NCMEC, she has a burn scar on her left leg, a tattoo on her left hand between her thumb and first finger of 'AH', a cross tattoo on her right hand and a birthmark on her upper right leg. Moreno might also go by her middle name Felecita.
Missing since: Oct. 10, 1979 in Big Spring
Age now: 65
Borden called her family in California some time after she was last seen by her family in Big Spring on October 10 and was sent a plane ticket but never picked it up.
According to Doe Network, she was reported missing by her sister and an unknown friend said she was in Amarillo working as a waitress, but gave no further details. Borden has a scar on her left hand and was known to hitchhike.
People can reach out to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling their 24-hour call center at 1-800-843-5678 or by visiting their website.
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