A non-profit helping search for the teen says they spoke with a girl, who they believe is Isabella, but her family says the call leaves many questions unanswered.
SAN ANTONIO — A nonprofit search group says it has spoken by phone with 16-year-old Isabella Ramirez, who has been missing for more than a week, but stress the teenager is still considered a missing person as the search continues.
Lori Wittmeyer, an official with Search and Support San Antonio, said the organization intensified its efforts over the weekend, canvassing neighborhoods, knocking on doors and distributing flyers in hopes of finding leads.
Isabella was last seen Saturday, Jan. 10, on surveillance video walking away from her home on Millstream Bend near U.S. 281, according to her family. No confirmed sightings have been reported since.
As the search entered its second week, Isabella’s father, Trinidad Ramirez, said the emotional toll on his family has been overwhelming.
“No father wants to go through this,” Ramirez said. “We have my wife at home, my kids. We can’t even bring them to this.”
Wittmeyer said the group focused part of its search on contacting friends of Isabella. One friend told the group he could reach her and ask her to make contact. About an hour later, Wittmeyer said, a girl she believes to be Isabella called.
Despite that contact, Wittmeyer emphasized that Isabella has not been located and the case remains active.
“We’re out today knocking on doors, handing flyers, just to see if there’s any information we can gather that points us in the direction of where we might be able to find Izzy,” she said.
Ramirez said he is working with multiple law enforcement agencies and remains concerned that his daughter may be a victim of human trafficking.
“There’s a lot leading to that, and we’re trying to figure out who the individuals are,” he said.
Search and Support San Antonio also issued a reminder that harboring a missing juvenile is a crime under Texas law.
“It is considered a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000,” Wittmeyer said. “We don’t want to do that. We just want to bring her home and make sure that she’s safe.”
Ramirez said the phone call still leaves many questions unanswered, but he vowed not to stop searching for his daughter.
“God, please help us,” he said. “Help us find our daughter. We will work through it. If there’s problems, let’s get therapy. Let’s get the priest. Let’s get whoever we need to help us heal.”
Anyone with information about Isabella Ramirez’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office at 210-335-6000 or Search and Support San Antonio at 210-338-0027.