City of Boise, ID
10/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/15/2024 16:31
Boise Police Locate Missing Teen in Houston; Suspect in Custody
Boise Police Locate Missing Teen in Houston; Suspect in Custody
October 15, 2024
Boise Police detectives, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, located a missing 16-year-old girl from Boise in Houston, Texas. An alleged suspect is also in custody in Houston, TX, on an Ada County warrant.
Suspect: Ruben D. Visquerra Aguilar, 24, Houston, TX
Warrant: First Degree Kidnapping (F), Human Sex Trafficking a Child (F)
On October 10, 2024, Boise Police received a report of a missing teen. Initial information indicated she had packed a bag, left a note, and run away from home. Boise Police School Resource Officers (SROs) and detectives from the Boise Police Special Victim's Unit (SVU) began an investigation that showed the teen had been communicating with a stranger online. Through their investigation, detectives gathered information showing the teen had traveled through eastern Idaho, to Utah, and eventually to Texas.
Boise Police SVU detectives partnered with the Houston Police Department's Human Trafficking Unit to continue to search for the teen victim. On October 14, 2024, she was located at a residence in Houston along with a 24-year-old suspect, Ruben D. Visquerra Aguilar. Detectives worked with the Ada County Prosecutor's office to obtain a warrant and Visquerra Aguilar was taken into custody.
Following further investigation, evidence showed that another unknown individual assisted in transporting the victim to Houston. That investigation remains ongoing.
The Boise Police Department is also continuing to work with the US Attorney's Office for the District of Idaho on this investigation and additional federal charges are possible. The suspect is considered innocent until proven guilty. Extradition will be decided by the courts.
The victim is receiving support services in Houston, TX and they are working with her family to bring her home.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) assisted in the investigation, using social media and other resources to assist in tracking down information that led to locating the teen. Their organization has numerous resources about online enticement and what parents should watch out for. https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/onlineenticement
"Boise Police officers and Special Victim's Unit detectives worked diligently with the victim's friends and family to investigate all leads and coordinate with law enforcement in multiple states to track down information leading to the safe recovery of the teen victim," said Special Victim's Unit Lieutenant Josiah Ransom. "We are grateful for the many partners who participated in this investigation and thank them for their assistance."
BPD reminds parents and caregivers to talk with children about safety online and what to do if they receive messages from online strangers.
"Kidnapping and human trafficking are some of the most concerning dangers when it comes to online predators," said Lt. Ransom. "Child enticement online is something we see far too often, and we encourage anyone who has been a victim to seek support and report it to law enforcement."
Contact: Boise Police Media Relations
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