UPDATE: An El Paso family is in urgent distress as they search for their 24-year-old daughter, Sydney Marquez, who has been missing since December 11, 2023. Last seen in southwest Houston, her father is pleading for assistance in locating her, as new surveillance footage has been retrieved by authorities.
Sydney was last spotted near the 9100 block of Bellaire Boulevard after leaving a friend’s car running. Witnesses indicate she may have boarded a northbound METRO bus at the intersection of Gessner and Harwin, potentially on route 46 towards the Little York area. Her father, Raul Marquez, has emphasized the importance of the bus video in uncovering her whereabouts, stating, “That footage is a matter of life and death.”
“I have the exact time when she boarded that bus. We have video of her going northbound on Ranchester. That’s the last solid evidence we have,” said Raul Marquez.
In a significant development, the METRO Police Department (MPD) confirmed they successfully retrieved the bus video that was previously unavailable. The footage has been transferred to the Houston Police Department (HPD), which is leading the investigation. MPD remains hopeful for Sydney’s safe return and is committed to assisting in the ongoing search.
Sydney, who lives and works in El Paso, was visiting friends when she went missing. Her father has expressed concern about her mental health, stating she was diagnosed with late-onset bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. “Over the last two or three months, we saw some changes—some behavior,” he added.
Time is critical in this search, according to Tim Miller, founder of Texas EquuSearch, who is aiding in the efforts. “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,” Miller emphasized.
Authorities describe Sydney as 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing approximately 120 pounds, with short reddish-brown hair and brown eyes. She wears glasses and has a four-leaf clover tattoo on her left wrist. Witnesses have suggested that she may have boarded the bus with two men who allegedly prevented her from using a phone offered at the bus stop. The retrieved video could be crucial for identifying these individuals.
In a heartfelt message to his daughter, Raul Marquez said, “Sydney, you need to come home now. We miss you. We love you. Christmas is around the corner.”
Anyone with information about Sydney Marquez is urged to contact the Houston Police Department at (832) 394-1840 or Texas EquuSearch at (281) 309-9500. The family and authorities are relying on the community to help bring Sydney home safely.
