UPDATE: An El Paso family is in desperate need of help as they search for their missing daughter, 24-year-old Sydney Marquez, who vanished while visiting friends in Houston earlier this month. Last seen on December 11, 2023, Sydney’s disappearance raises urgent concerns, and her family is pleading for information.
Sydney was last spotted near the 9100 block of Bellaire Boulevard. Surveillance footage captured her walking away after leaving a friend’s car running in the street. Witnesses indicated she may have boarded a northbound METRO bus at the intersection of Gessner and Harwin, heading towards the Little York area.
Raul Marquez, Sydney’s father, emphasized the critical importance of obtaining video from the METRO bus she may have boarded, stating, “That footage is a matter of life and death.” He has received confirmation that investigators retrieved the bus video, which is crucial for understanding her whereabouts after she left the car.
“We have video of her going northbound on Ranchester. That’s the last solid evidence we have,” Marquez said.
According to the METRO Police Department (MPD), the retrieved bus footage has been handed over to the Houston Police Department (HPD), the lead agency in the investigation. MPD is collaborating closely with HPD, remaining hopeful for Sydney’s safe return.
Authorities report that Sydney, who lives and works in El Paso, may have been experiencing a mental health episode at the time of her disappearance. “She was diagnosed with late-onset bipolar disorder with a bit of schizophrenia,” her father revealed.
Texas EquuSearch is actively assisting in the search. Founder Tim Miller stressed the urgency, saying, “Time’s not on our side. She’s a young girl who was walking late at night, not knowing the area. We just want to get her home safe.”
Described as 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 120 pounds, Sydney has short reddish-brown hair and brown eyes, wearing glasses. She is identified by a four-leaf clover tattoo on her left wrist.
In a heartfelt message, Raul Marquez said, “Sydney, you need to come home now. We miss you. We love you. Christmas is around the corner.” Despite police not confirming details, a witness indicated she 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 video could help identify these individuals.
Anyone with information about Sydney Marquez‘s whereabouts is urged to contact the Houston Police Department at (832) 394-1840, or Texas EquuSearch at (281) 309-9500. Her family remains hopeful and is determined to bring her home safely.
