Search continues for missing Ft. Bend County teen

Saturday, November 03, 2007

(11/03/07 - KTRK/NEEDVILLE, TX) (KTRK) -- There are new developments now on an Amber Alert we told you about Friday night. Family members of a missing 17-year-old girl in Fort Bend County believe she's in south Texas headed to Mexico.

The suspect's mother says this is not the first time the two teenagers have run away together. The last time was about two years ago when they spent about two months in Mexico.

Adelene Ruiz, 17, was last seen around 9pm Wednesday leaving her job at The Swinging Door in Richmond. Ruiz filed a protective order against her former boyfriend, Charlie Lucas Zelaya, 19. In fact Zelaya was supposed to report to court Friday, but never showed.

Ft. Bend County investigators believe Ruiz was abducted by Zelaya, though Zelaya's mother says he and Ruiz were still seeing each other despite the protective order. She says the night Ruiz went missing, they were at her house where Ruiz left her truck. A family spokesperson read this plea, written by Zelay's mother, to the teenagers.

"We have faith in you, Lucas," said the spokesperson. "Your two families are in so much pain and suffering. Please, Lucas, please call someone and let us know that you and Adelene are OK."

Ruiz's boss says an employee did receive a call from Zelay early Friday morning, in which he heard Ruiz talking in the background. Detectives say Zelay is very possessive and controlling.

Ruiz was last seen wearing her work uniform - a grey and black T-shirt with The Swinging Door on the front and jeans. Investigators think the two are in Zelay's white 1999 Ford truck with an extended cab and license plate 9XN-Z50.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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