OR OR - Jesus Merino Mendoza, 3, Portland, 26 July 2007

Police Search for Missing 3-year-old

The Portland Police Bureau has issued a missing persons alert for a 3 year-old Northeast Portland boy. Jesus Merino Mendoza is believed to have been kidnapped by his father Jesus “Chu Cho” Leyva.

Mendoza’s mother flagged down officers in the 6800 block of Northeast Killingsworth around 12:45am Thursday. She told them Leyva took their child despite an existing restraining order preventing contact with Mendoza.

Investigators believe Mendoza is in imminent danger due to Leyva’s unstable mental state. Family of the 3 year-old says they fear Leyva will kill himself and the child if confronted by police.

Jesus Merino Mendoza is described as 3’2”, 36lbs, with short-cropped brown hair. He was last seen wearing a blue jersey style tank top with a numeral on the front, blue shorts and sandals. He also has a V-shaped birthmark on his forehead.

If you see Jesus Merino Mendoza or Jesus “Chu Cho” Levya, you’re asked to call 911 immediately.

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_072607_news_missing_kid.b4f30917.html
*Pictures at link

ETA: An Amber Alert was not issued because "police did not have a vehicle description or license plate number."

I hope that this little boy is found before something awful happens to him. This scares me because this man sounds unstable enough to end both his and the little boy's life. Prayers going out.

Mother of missing boy pleads for help

PORTLAND, Ore. - The mother of a 3-year-old boy who was taken by his father, a man considered mentally unstable, issued a plea on Friday for help in finding her son.

According to police, Jesus Merino Mendoza was taken Thursday by 37-year-old Jesus Merino Leyva, who also goes by the nickname 'Chu Cho.'
According to police, Leyva had no legal right to take the boy. There is a restraining order barring Leyva from contacting the boy or his mother that stems from past domestic violence incidents.

"We're worried because of the father's past domestic violence issues with the mother - some threats he's made to the mother in the past and of course, his mental health, which has proved to be unstable," said Catherine Kent with the Portland Police Bureau.

Neighbors told KATU News they often saw Leyva parked outside the apartment complex, apparently trying to repair his relationship with the boy's mother.

The boy's mother, who did not wish to be identified on camera, told KATU News Leyva threatened to hurt himself or her son if she went to police.
The boy's mother, who speaks Spanish, spoke through an interpreter. "She said that night that he told her if she made any false alarm or anything like calling the police, he would take his life and the kid and he said it to her clearly."

Portland police have alerted customs and border protection agents over concerns that Leyva may be trying to head across the border to Mexico.
Police have not issued an Amber Alert because they do not know what kind of vehicle Leyva is driving. One of the Amber Alert system's best tools is highway reader boards, but without a car description, police say the Amber Alert would not work.

Still, police want to hear from anyone who spots a man with a young child fitting their description.

"Even if you are driving along the freeway and next to you in a car you see a father and a 3-year-old, call us. We'll check out any lead at this point," Kent said.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the toddler's safe return. If you have information, call (503) 823-HELP (4357).


Description of Jesus Merino Leyva

• Hispanic male
• 37 years old
• 5 feet, 5 inches tall
• 180 pounds
• Black hair (is shorter than shown in photo and he is now clean-shaven)
• Brown eyes

Description of Jesus Merino Mendoza

• Hispanic male
• 3 years old
• Approximately 3 feet, 2 inches tall
• Short, cropped brown hair
• Last seen wearing a blue, jersey-style tank top with a number on the front, blue shorts and sandals
• Has a faint, V-shaped birthmark on his forehead

http://www.katu.com/news/8774347.html **More pictures at link

NCMEC page:

http://www.missingkids.com/missingk...NCMC&seqNum=1&caseLang=en_US&searchLang=en_US

Oregon State Police page:

http://www.oregon.gov/OSP/MCC/merino-mendoz_jesus.shtml

Thanks for bumping him up, Hoppy. Jesus just celebrated his 5th birthday. Hoping he had a :HappyBday

Charley Project: http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/merino-mendoza_jesus.html

"A cousin says he gave Leyva and Merino-Mendoza a ride to Merced, California on July 26. He says they were trying to get to Mexico. "

Jesus, now 6 years old, has been missing for 3 years.

Jesus' photo has been age-progressed to 6 years old. He is almost 8.


http://www.missingkids.com/missingk...NCMC&seqNum=1&caseLang=en_US&searchLang=en_US

BUMPING for Jesus, now 8 years old. He has been missing for 5 years today.

Bumping again for Jesus, missing more than 6 years now.

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed said:

Jesus' photo has been age-progressed to 6 years old. He is almost 8.

http://www.missingkids.com/missingk...NCMC&seqNum=1&caseLang=en_US&searchLang=en_US

Click to expand...

This picture auto-updated through NCMEC and now shows Jesus at age 9. He turns 10 tomorrow.