UPDATE: An El Paso family is in a frantic search for their daughter, Sydney Marquez, who vanished while visiting friends in Houston earlier this month. The 24-year-old was last seen on December 11 around the 9100 block of Bellaire Boulevard, and her father is urgently calling for the release of surveillance video from a METRO bus she may have boarded.
Sydney’s father, Raul Marquez, revealed that surveillance footage shows her leaving a friend’s car running before walking away, but the last solid evidence places her at the intersection of Gessner and Harwin, where she allegedly boarded a northbound bus on route 46. “The car was running. We have video of her going northbound on Ranchester. That’s the last solid evidence we have,” Marquez stated. “I have the exact time when she boarded that bus. That footage is a matter of life and death.”
The METRO Police Department (MPD) confirmed that they have successfully retrieved the bus video that was initially unavailable. This footage has been handed over to the Houston Police Department (HPD), which is leading the investigation. MPD is optimistic about Sydney’s safe return and is cooperating fully with HPD.
As the search intensifies, concerns for Sydney’s mental health have been raised. Her father disclosed that she has been diagnosed with late-onset bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, noting changes in her behavior in recent months. “She was diagnosed with late-onset bipolar disorder with a bit of schizophrenia,” Marquez expressed. “Over the last two or three months, we saw some changes—some behavior.”
Time is of the essence, according to Tim Miller, founder of Texas EquuSearch, who is assisting in the search. “Time’s not on our side,” Miller warned. “She’s a young girl who was walking late at night, not knowing the area. We just want to get her home safe.”
Sydney Marquez is described as being 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 120 pounds. She has short reddish-brown hair, brown eyes, and wears glasses. Notably, she has a four-leaf clover tattoo on her left wrist. In a heartfelt plea to his daughter, Raul Marquez said, “Sydney, you need to come home now. We miss you. We love you. Christmas is around the corner.”
There are reports from witnesses suggesting that Sydney may have boarded the bus with two men who allegedly prevented her from using a phone offered to her at the bus stop. The retrieved bus video could be crucial in identifying these individuals and understanding the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding Sydney Marquez to contact the Houston Police Department at (832) 394-1840 or Texas EquuSearch at (281) 309-9500. Every moment counts in this urgent search for a beloved daughter and friend.
