Neighbours question whether US man found alive after eight years was ever missing

Kisha Ross and her family were shocked to hear reports that Rudy Farias was located because they never knew he had been reported missing in 2015, according to Houston TV network ABC-KTRK.

“He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son, and daughter,” Ms Ross told the news outlet, which cited civil court records that indicate Mr Farias’ mother lives on the same street in northeast Houston, reported the New York Post.

“That boy has never been missing,” the neighbour said, adding that he “would go to the park by himself” at times.

Ms Ross’ cousin, Broderick Conley, said he and Mr Farias would hang out often and had “laughing good times.”.

The neighbours — who know Mr Farias as Dolph, short for Rudolph — told KTRK that he had visited their home often but that they had not seen him in the past few weeks.

Another neighbour told the station that he has seen Mr Farias living at his mother’s home for years.

“I was just shocked someone over here was missing — and we see him. It’s shocking to everyone,” the neighbour, who spoke anonymously, told the outlet.

Mr Farias was found beaten and bruised outside a church in Houston on Thursday by a good Samaritan who called 911, according to his mother, Janie Santana.

Mr Farias was still wearing the necklace of his brother — who died in a 2011 motorcycle accident — and was non-verbal, she said.

“My son Rudy is receiving the care he needs to overcome his trauma, but at this time, he is non-verbal and not able to communicate with us,” his mum told The Post in a statement provided by the Texas Centre for the Missing.

Ms Santana added that the family did not have any additional details about the case or where Mr Farias has been since 2015.

At the time of his disappearance, he suffered from depression, PTSD and anxiety, the search organisation Texas EquuSearch said in 2015, adding that he may have been disoriented after not taking his meds.

On Tuesday, Ms Santana claimed the man her neighbours have spent time with and seen living with her is her nephew, according to the outlet.

The mother showed KTRK a photograph of the person, but the neighbours said that’s not him.

“I do not know. That’s what I have been trying to figure out all day,” Ms Ross said. “I am confused right now. I am like, ‘What’s going on?’”

On Monday, police said there was an apparent sighting of Mr Farias by his family in 2018 — though cops didn’t find him after receiving a tip that he had been living behind a relative’s home.

Authorities did not believe foul play was involved when he was first reported missing.

Texas EquuSearch director Tim Miller has called the young man’s reappearance a miracle.

“How did this happen? We believe in miracles and this certainly was a miracle,” Miller said. “I can’t even tell you how many times we searched and how many leads and tips came in and they just kind of faded away and now all of a sudden, this.

This story was published in the New York Post and is reproduced with permission.