Image: Age Progressed to age 36 (there are no available photographs of the child)
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: August 3, 1987
Missing From: Sunland, Los Angeles County, California
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: June 23, 1987
Age: 1 month old
Height and Weight: 1’11” and 14 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Hispanic Male, Black hair, Brown eyes
NCMEC Number: 774276
Details of Disappearance
Juan was last seen in Sunland, California on August 3rd 1987, a month and a half after his birth. He lived with his mother, Christina Torres, at the Senator Hotel located at 726 South Spring Street in the downtown area. They were going through difficult times but Torres had gotten a job interview that day.
She stated she left Juan with a babysitter who only called herself “Maria.” That afternoon, Torres was supposed to met the woman to get Juan at Pershing Park Square at 532 South Olive Street. This was just three blocks away from the hotel Christina and her son were staying in. However, the woman never turned up at the meeting spot with Juan.
Christina said she waited a day to contact police hoping the woman would return her son. When that didn’t happen, she reported the abduction to law enforcement. While the suspect has not been positively identified, Christina stated she heard rumors that the woman’s actual name was “Teresa Anderson” but this hasn’t been confirmed. Torres also said additional information was discovered linking the woman to the “Chico Lomas gang.”
The woman is described as being white with reddish-blonde hair. She stood at approximately 5’4″ and weighed between 148-160 pounds. To date, she has not been positively identified. Police believe the woman took Juan to raise as her own child or to possibly sell to someone else. It’s very likely he’s alive, grown up, and has no idea he was abducted.
Christina and the rest of his family still hold onto hope that he’ll be reunited with them. Juan’s abduction remains unsolved and there’s been no sign of him since 1987.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Los Angeles Police Department 877-275-5273
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children