UPDATE: An El Paso family is in a desperate race against time to locate their daughter, 24-year-old Sydney Marquez, who vanished during a visit to Houston. Last seen on December 11, 2023, near the 9100 block of Bellaire Boulevard, her father is urgently appealing for public assistance as critical video evidence has now been retrieved.
Sydney was reportedly last spotted walking away from a friend’s vehicle that was left idling in the street. Witnesses indicated she may have boarded a northbound METRO bus at the intersection of Gessner and Harwin. Her father, Raul Marquez, emphasized the importance of obtaining this bus footage, stating, “That footage is a matter of life and death.”
“The car was running. We have video of her going northbound on Ranchester. That’s the last solid evidence we have,” Raul Marquez said.
In a significant development, the METRO Police Department (MPD) confirmed that they have successfully retrieved video evidence from the bus that Sydney may have boarded. This footage has been handed over to the Houston Police Department (HPD), which is leading the investigation. MPD expressed optimism for her safe return and reiterated their commitment to assist HPD.
Sydney, who lives and works in El Paso, was in Houston visiting friends when she went missing. Her family is deeply concerned for her well-being, particularly as Raul mentioned that Sydney has been diagnosed with late-onset bipolar disorder accompanied by schizophrenia. “Over the last two or three months, we saw some changes—some behavior,” he added, highlighting the urgency of finding her.
Time is of the essence, according to Tim Miller, founder of Texas EquuSearch, who is aiding in the search. “Time’s not on our side,” Miller urged. “She’s a young girl who was walking late at night, not knowing the area. We just want to get her home safe.”
The Houston Police Department descriptions of Sydney include:
- Height: 5 feet 4 inches
- Weight: Approximately 120 pounds
- Hair: Short reddish-brown hair
- Eyes: Brown
- Glasses: Wears glasses
- Tattoo: Four-leaf clover on her left wrist
In an emotional message to his daughter, Raul implored, “Sydney, you need to come home now. We miss you. We love you. Christmas is around the corner.” Witnesses have reported that she might have boarded the bus with two men who prevented her from using a phone offered to her at the bus stop, adding to the urgency of the investigation.
Authorities are urging anyone with information on Sydney Marquez’s whereabouts to contact the Houston Police Department at (832) 394-1840 or Texas EquuSearch at (281) 309-9500. Every second counts in the search for this missing young woman.
