Family members: Missing boy is in Mexico

Salemburg, N.C. — Family members of missing 13-year-old Jose Andres Avellaneda say the boy is with them in Mexico, the Sampson County Sheriff's Office said Friday.

Authorities were unable to corroborate the information and are still considering the teen missing.

Relatives reported Jose and his mother Mary Esther Avellaneda, 38, missing after they left their Salemburg home Sunday night with Avellaneda's estranged husband, Jose Cruz Avellaneda.

Jose Cruz Avellaneda returned 20 minutes later, alone, and hasn't been seen since, relatives said.

Family members in Mexico told authorities Friday they do not know the location of Mary Esther Avellaneda or Jose Cruz Avellaneda.

A car connected to the disappearance was found in San Antonio, Texas, Thursday night, the sheriff's office said. The family had previously lived in San Antonio.

Authorities said Thursday they are treating the disappearance as a missing persons case because they have no evidence to indicate any wrongdoing.

"(I'm afraid) that she's somewhere lying dead, both of them," said Mary Esther Avellaneda's brother, John Anthony Garcia.

Jose Cruz Avellaneda's 1995 four-door, white Chevrolet Lumina with North Carolina license plate XZX-8054 was found at a truck stop, but no one was in or around it, said Capt. Eric Pope of the Sampson County Sheriff's Office.

Anyone who might have information about any of the missing family members' whereabouts can call the Sampson County Sheriff's Office at 910-592-4141.

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All I know is that if this families last name was Smith this forum would be COMPLEATLY different. So many would be saying oooo my prayers are with this family,,, oooo I hope the boy is ok. shame on us!

TeresaBee
January 9, 2009 9:28 p.m.

thank you for the government lesson whatusay...just because someone is from a different county does not mean that they arrived illegally. I am certainly not part of the problem, the problem lies when one person thinks they are better than another based upon where they were born. Thanks anyway :)

rybail
January 9, 2009 8:40 p.m.

I'm not absolutely convinced they are safe. Who's family says they are there-the wifes or husbands. Prove it and then I'll think they are safe.

It IS possible he left w/ them to take them to the bus station or airport--just not enough info.

wonderif
January 9, 2009 7:14 p.m.

Whatusay: The recession that we are currently is not merely an "American" recession. This recession impacts many nations around the world.

Whether this woman and her son are illegal or not has nothing to do with the content of this article. This is a missing woman and son. The woman may be dead! Be sensitive to this unfortunate circumstance!

Tawny
January 9, 2009 7:09 p.m.

whocares & rybail... Illegal immigrants are different than legal immigrants. You don't seem to see the difference. I assure you that part of this recession is directly related to government giving our tax dollars to illegals (medical, education,welfare,housing,driving without insurance). This is part of the reason everything is so expensive, because we are paying for 20,000,000 extra people..WAKE UP - you are part of the problem by looking the other way.

whatusay
January 9, 2009 6:14 p.m.