On November 27, 2010, 48-year-old Carlos Ortega-Gonzalez, along with four companions, vanished after embarking on a trip from San Marcos, Texas, to Mexico. The group included Luis Hernandez, Nicholas Munoz, Ricardo Gomez, and Ricardo's 14-year-old nephew, Jiovany Gomez, who was visiting from Chicago. They were last seen traveling in a green 2003 Chevrolet Suburban with the Texas license plate number AD98575.
The purpose of their trip to the border city of Laredo, Texas, was to handle paperwork for a vehicle.
After concluding their business in Laredo, the five decided to cross the border into Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, for a shopping excursion. At approximately 12:00 p.m., Luis Hernandez placed a call to his wife, assuring her they would all return home between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. that evening. However, the group never arrived back in San Marcos. Concern grew when Munoz and Hernandez, described as dependable employees, failed to report for their jobs at Heldenfels Enterprises Inc., a concrete company. This out-of-character absence prompted their employer and families to notify law enforcement on November 30.
The disappearance of the five individuals is being investigated by the FBI as a missing persons case, although the possibility of foul play, including kidnapping, has been acknowledged by authorities. While Jiovany Gomez's case has been classified by some agencies as a runaway, the circumstances surrounding the group's disappearance remain unclear. The men are a mix of American citizens and legal U.S. residents of Mexican heritage. As of late 2010, federal authorities had no leads and had not received any ransom requests or other communications to indicate a kidnapping. The families of the missing men expressed fears that their loved ones had been kidnapped. The green Chevrolet Suburban the group was traveling in has also not been located. The case remains unresolved, and the whereabouts of Carlos Ortega-Gonzalez and his four companions are still unknown.Last Seen: Nov 27, 2010
