A 17-year-old boy vanished while walking his dogs eight years ago, prompting an investigation and a search of the area.
Suddenly, Rudy Farias reappeared last week when community members discovered him lying next to a church, entirely non-verbal, prompting speculation that he was abused during his disappearance - but now neighbours have come forward saying that he was never missing, as they've seen him hanging around in the area for years.
In Houston, Texas on March 6, 2015, his family reported a teenage Rudy Farias missing. Police never found any leads and investigators have been puzzled by his whereabouts for over eight years.
In a shocking update last Saturday, the authorities were called after some neighbours spotted a man lying down next to a church. As police arrived to help, they realized this man was the boy that's been missing for the better part of a decade.
Witnesses say that Farias was covered in cuts and bruises all over his body, and has been left unable to speak from his ordeal. According to a social media post from his family he flinches from the slightest touch and thinks he is a 14-year-old called Julio Torres.
Rudy's family excitedly confirmed the news in a statement posted to Facebook, writing: "It's him!!! It's our Rudy, he's been found and he's alive and in the hospital right now."
Now, according to ABC13, "neighbors are questioning whether a 25-year-old man found alive after he was reported missing eight years ago was really ever missing."
One neighbor came forward to the media. Kisha Ross, who lives nearby, told cameras, "He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son, and daughter."
"That boy has never been missing," claims Ross.
Ross' cousin, Broderick Conley, also says he's spent plenty of time with the Farias as he was growing up. "Laughing good times," Conley said. "Sometimes he would go to the park by himself."
Both neighbours say they haven't seen Farias for weeks, but he was definitely not missing. They called him "Dolph," which was short for Rudolph, his full name.
The Texas Center for Missing also tweeted over the weekend that Farias has been found and shared the following statement on behalf of the family:
"We want to thank the media and public for all their support. My son Rudy Farias IV was found on Thursday, June 29, after being missing for eight years. Currently, we do not have any additional information on Rudy's case. What we do know is at the time of his recovery, a good Samaritan located him unresponsive and immediately called police and 911. My son Rudy is receiving the care he needs to overcome his trauma, but at this time, he is nonverbal and not able to communicate with us. We are asking for privacy during this difficult time but will share more details as Rudy continues to heal."
The mother of the boy says she thinks he was kidnapped and abused all these years.
