The boy was reported missing eight years ago.
But he was never away and has always lived with his mother.
– They gave fictitious names when they talked to different patrols over the years, says the police.
Rudy Farias was walking his family’s two dogs and then disappeared without a trace on March 6, 2015.
A week ago, his mother brought the good news. Rudy Farias had been found alive outside a church in Houston Texas.
But now local authorities are alerting that the case has taken another turn.
The boy was never missing.
– Rudy returned home the day after he disappeared, the police say according to CNN.
“Found” last week
When Rudy Farias was “found” by his mother Janie Santana last week, she told local media that he was incoherent and in very bad health.
“My son Rudy is getting the care he needs to overcome the trauma,” she said at the time.
But on Wednesday, the police announced during a press conference that the mother had been lying all these years.
– Mother continued to deceive the police by insisting that Rudy was missing, says a police officer according to CNN.
The police also announced that in recent years they have been in contact with Janie Santana – and Rudy Farias several times.
– The fact is that both Rudy’s mother and Rudy himself gave fictitious names when they talked to various patrol officers over the years, the police said at the press conference.
On those occasions, the mother allegedly claimed that Rudy Farias was her nephew.
Started collection
Weeks after the “disappearance” in 2015, a fundraiser has been started in Rudy Faria’s name via GoFundMe.
“Santana needs financial support because she can’t work when her son is missing,” wrote the Independent.
However, the new timeline shows that the boy was already found when the collection, which brought in the equivalent of at least SEK 20,000, was started.
Several neighbors of the family are now in shock that the duo managed to keep the secret all these years.
– He used to come into our garage and hang out with my cousin, my son and my daughter. That boy has never been gone, neighbor Kisha Ross told the channel.
Was accused of kidnapping
According to the district attorney, however, there are no criminal suspicions against the mother. At the same time, the police state that they continue to investigate the case.
This week, an activist who goes by the name Quanell X came forward and accused Janie Santana of kidnapping the boy all these years, the Independent reports.
Furthermore, he claimed that the mother allegedly abused and drugged the son.
The activist’s statement was widely circulated in the media and on social media.
During Thursday’s press conference, however, the police denied the information.