TX TX - Laura Ayala, 13, Houston, 10 March 2002

http://www.click2houston.com/news/1296646/detail.html

Police Search For Missing Girl
Family Finds Girl's Shoes

POSTED: 8:03 a.m. CST March 11, 2002
UPDATED: 9:29 a.m. CST March 12, 2002

HOUSTON -- A 13-year-old Houston girl is missing after going to get a Sunday newspaper for a school project at a nearby gas station, authorities said.

Video


Girl's Family Speaks Out
Hear More On The Investigation





Investigators told News2Houston that Laura Ayala left her home at around 10:15 p.m. Sunday to buy the paper at the Conoco Station, 2610 Broadway, in southeast Houston.

Ayala had asked her mother for some money to buy the paper for a school assignment that was to be completed during spring break, authorities said.

"The girl was gone for about five minutes," Houston Police Sgt. Mike Peters said. "The mother came out looking for her at the gas station that's right behind their apartment complex."

The clerk told police that Ayala did come into the store alone and purchased a newspaper and left.

While family members were searching for Ayala, they found her shoes and the paper scattered on the route to the store, authorities said.

Investigators said that the fact that Ayala's shoes were found makes the incident very suspicious.

In Spanish, Ayala's mom pleaded for the public's help.

"Please, give me back my daughter," Angelica Rebollar said.



Police described Ayala as an Hispanic female, about 4 feet tall, and weighing about 90 pounds. She has black, medium-length straight hair with brown highlights.

Ayala was last seen wearing a blue and white checkered dress.

Investigator said that they are also looking for a possible suspect.

"He's described as an Hispanic male," Officer John Cannon said, "driving in a rusty-colored, or red or maroon type cargo van that has back windows, but may not have side windows."

The van also has a gray bumper, authorities said.

Police search dogs and a helicopter crew have also been brought in to search for Ayala.

Investigators said that will also be speaking with all 30 registered sex offenders, who live within a two-mile radius of Ayala's home, located at 7939 Serita, in southeast Houston.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Houston Police Department at (713) 308-3600.

Copyright 2003 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Search Intensifies For Missing Girl

http://www.click2houston.com/news/1299846/detail.html

Reward Increased For Missing Girl
No Sign Of Laura Ayala

POSTED: 10:45 a.m. CST March 18, 2002
UPDATED: 5:02 p.m. CST March 19, 2002

HOUSTON -- A reward has been increased to $14,000 for information in the disappearance of Laura Ayala, 13, who has been missing for nine days.



Crime Stoppers announced the higher reward Monday. Officials said that an unidentified citizen donated an additional $2,000 to the reward fund.

The Houston office of the FBI opened its own investigation over the weekend, as volunteers continued to search the area around Ayala's southeast Houston neighborhood, where she was last seen on March 10.

Ayala left her apartment at 7939 Serita at around 10:15 p.m. to buy a Sunday newspaper at a nearby gas station to complete a school assignment.

A command post has been set up at the Conoco station, 2610 Broadway, in southeast Houston.

While family members were searching for Ayala, they found her shoes and the paper scattered on the route to the store, authorities said.

Volunteers with the Laura Recover Center Foundation and the Texas EquuSearch Mounted Search and Recovery Team are helping with the search.

Police described Ayala as a Hispanic female, about 4 feet tall, and weighing about 90 pounds. She has black, medium-length straight hair with brown highlights.

Ayala was last seen wearing a blue and white-checkered dress.

Investigators said that they are also looking for a possible suspect, driving a rusty-colored, or red or maroon cargo-type van that has back windows, but may not have side windows, and with a gray bumper.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Houston Police Department at (713) 308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.

Previous Story:

http://www.click2houston.com/news/1318880/detail.html

Police Release More Photos Of Missing Girl
Laura Ayala Last Seen On March 10

POSTED: 2:36 p.m. CST March 22, 2002
UPDATED: 2:41 p.m. CST March 22, 2002

HOUSTON -- Houston Police released another picture Friday of Laura Ayala, 13, who was last seen on Sunday, March 10.



The photo was taken on March 9, the day before she disappeared.

Ayala, who lives at 7939 Sarita in southeast Houston, was apparently abducted, according to police.

Police described Ayala as a Hispanic female, 4 feet tall, and weighing about 90 pounds. She has black, medium-length straight hair with brown highlights. She was last seen wearing a blue-checkered dress.

Ayala disappeared after she walked behind her apartment complex to a service station to buy a newspaper for a school project.

After several minutes passed, Ayala's mother grew concerned and went to look for her. She found Ayala's shoes along with the newspaper on the street near the service station. The clerk at the station remembered selling her a newspaper.

Volunteers have searched on foot and horseback in various locations around the Houston area since her disappearance, but have not found any clues.

Anyone with information about Ayala's disappearance or whereabouts is asked to call the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division at (713) 308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.

A $14,000 reward is being offered in the case.

More Information:
HPD News Release
See More Pictures Of Laura

Previous Stories:
March 19, 2002: Reward Increased For Missing Girl
March 13, 2002: Reward Offered For Missing Girl
March 12, 2002: Search Intensifies For Missing Girl
March 12, 2002: Police Search For Missing Girl

http://www.click2houston.com/news/1404292/detail.html

Van May Hold Clue To Girl's Disappearance
Reward Offered In Case

POSTED: 5:35 p.m. CDT April 17, 2002
UPDATED: 5:41 p.m. CDT April 17, 2002

HOUSTON -- Houston police said Wednesday that they have their best lead yet in the disappearance of Laura Ayala, 13.

Video


Do You Recognize Van?





Five weeks after Ayala disappeared, a witness identified a vehicle near where Ayala was last seen.

It's described as a mid-80s van with two-toned paint and a sliding door with a window.

"The van was seen at the exact location where, later on, Laura's shoes were found and a newspaper was discovered in the street at about the right time we were looking for," said Lt. Murray Smith with the Houston Police Department.

Officers have had few leads in the case. The latest was a witness who lived in the area who didn't see the abduction but, in hindsight, noticed the van.

"He saw the van there. He saw the door of the van open. He did not think it significant at the time. This is the best lead I've had in the last six weeks," Smith said.

The FBI is also helping in the search for Ayala.

"We'll take that and compare notes across the state, across the country to see if there are similar cases that we're working that have similarities," said Bob Doguim with the FBI.

Police said that Ayala was abducted some time after 10:15 p.m. Sunday, March 10, behind her family's apartment, located at 7939 Sarita in southeast Houston.



She disappeared after she walked behind her apartment complex to a gas station to buy a newspaper for a school project.

Ayala's mother later found her daughter's shoes along with the newspaper on the street near the gas station. The clerk at the station remembered selling her a newspaper.

Volunteers have searched on foot and horseback in various locations around the Houston area since her disappearance, but have not found any clues.

Police described Ayala as a Hispanic female, 4 feet tall, and weighing about 90 pounds. She has black, medium-length straight hair with brown highlights. She was last seen wearing a blue-checkered dress.

Anyone with information about Ayala's disappearance or whereabouts is asked to call the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division at (713) 308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.

A $19,000 reward is being offered in the case.

Previous Stories:

johnny said:

http://www.click2houston.com/news/1404292/detail.html

Van May Hold Clue To Girl's Disappearance
Reward Offered In Case

POSTED: 5:35 p.m. CDT April 17, 2002
UPDATED: 5:41 p.m. CDT April 17, 2002

HOUSTON -- Houston police said Wednesday that they have their best lead yet in the disappearance of Laura Ayala, 13.

Video


Do You Recognize Van?





Five weeks after Ayala disappeared, a witness identified a vehicle near where Ayala was last seen.

It's described as a mid-80s van with two-toned paint and a sliding door with a window.

"The van was seen at the exact location where, later on, Laura's shoes were found and a newspaper was discovered in the street at about the right time we were looking for," said Lt. Murray Smith with the Houston Police Department.

Officers have had few leads in the case. The latest was a witness who lived in the area who didn't see the abduction but, in hindsight, noticed the van.

"He saw the van there. He saw the door of the van open. He did not think it significant at the time. This is the best lead I've had in the last six weeks," Smith said.

The FBI is also helping in the search for Ayala.

"We'll take that and compare notes across the state, across the country to see if there are similar cases that we're working that have similarities," said Bob Doguim with the FBI.

Police said that Ayala was abducted some time after 10:15 p.m. Sunday, March 10, behind her family's apartment, located at 7939 Sarita in southeast Houston.



She disappeared after she walked behind her apartment complex to a gas station to buy a newspaper for a school project.

Ayala's mother later found her daughter's shoes along with the newspaper on the street near the gas station. The clerk at the station remembered selling her a newspaper.

Volunteers have searched on foot and horseback in various locations around the Houston area since her disappearance, but have not found any clues.

Police described Ayala as a Hispanic female, 4 feet tall, and weighing about 90 pounds. She has black, medium-length straight hair with brown highlights. She was last seen wearing a blue-checkered dress.

Anyone with information about Ayala's disappearance or whereabouts is asked to call the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division at (713) 308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.

A $19,000 reward is being offered in the case.

Previous Stories:

Click to expand...

Any possiblity she was taken to Mexico?

Laura Ayala's DNA has been found in the vehicle belonging to one of three men convicted in at least two other deaths of women in the East Houston area. (I believe there was a third as well.) Two of the women were abducted after leaving their place of business and were found dead the next day. The third woman (a teenager) was also found dead.

Laura's body has not been found and while the family is still hopeful, I think the police feel that the convicted men are responsible for Laura's death as well.

The leads to Mexico did not pan out.

Texana said:

Laura Ayala's DNA has been found in the vehicle belonging to one of three men convicted in at least two other deaths of women in the East Houston area. (I believe there was a third as well.) Two of the women were abducted after leaving their place of business and were found dead the next day. The third woman (a teenager) was also found dead.
The leads to Mexico did not pan out.

Click to expand...

I was under the understanding that HPD botched up the DNA test and it was thrown out by a judge. Is there any news about this?

This is old news man.

As of 3/10/04 the latest article I found in checking the abc affiliate news channel, doesn't say anything about the test being thrown out, I don't remember seeing anything about that--Several cases were thrown out because the crime lab botched some tests, but I don't remember seeing the Ayala case as one of them, and it's not mentioned in the article on 3/10/04 which is basically talking about the two year anniversary of Laura's disappearance and the upcoming trials of the men involved in the other three killings. Also mentions that the men are not being cooperative in the Ayala case. Laura's blood was found in the truck of one of the men.

She also fits the profile and time line of the killings, but there is no motivation whatsoever for the men to say anything about what may have happened to her at this point.

RCOOKE said:

I was under the understanding that HPD botched up the DNA test and it was thrown out by a judge. Is there any news about this?

Click to expand...

If you go to www.abc13.com, do a search for Laura Ayala, and it comes up with all the articles, the most recent 3/10/04 mentions the blood but nothing about the DNA being thrown out. I really think it wasn't one of the ones thrown out--but with no other evidence and the men not being cooperative, there's not much to go forward with.

In response to KATO.........yeah old news which a lot of us new persons never heard about. Bottom line she is still missing and the more resources to help the better.........I guess we all have "old news" forgotten loved ones and friends that were taken from us. You know I'm tired and I know Mr. Cooke and the Shawn Hornbeck family and countless others are as well but I keep pushing, praying and hoping. Its like they are all lost and are depending on us to help lead them home regardless how long they've been away. Stay away from our hope its all we have sometimes.

No Apologies!

You know another thing, I stay out of the gossip sections because thats for those who like to talk about "thats so sad..thats awful...someone should do something....


Hey some people are doing something (most people don't) and we know all about sad and awful...........

I mean it's "old news" as far as the DNA goes. The HPD crime lab didn't mess up that particular case.

English flyer here
http://www.texasequusearch.org/missing persons bulletins/lauraayalaflyer.htm

Spanish flyer here
http://www.texasequusearch.org/missing persons bulletins/lauraayalaflyerspanish.htm

Special thanks to Tim and all the Texas EquuSearchers who have so diligently searched for Laura and been there for her family through this time.
With love and HOPE, Lanie
Help For The Missing

Any updates?

Just that one of the POIs tied to her case has been sentenced to death in the rape and murder of another little girl. The other POI was already sentenced to death for the murder of two waitresses.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/3332839/detail.html

I'd like to know, what ever came out of this? Her blood was found in these guy's possession!

HOUSTON -- Police got their first break in the case of 13-year-old Laura Ayala, missing since last March, but they still do not know her whereabouts, News2Houston reported Thursday.

Houston police said that DNA evidence links Ayala to three suspects in a series of rapes and murders known as the east end murders.

Walter Alexander Sorto, 25, and Edgardo Rafael Cuba, 23, have been charged with three counts of capital murder in the east end murders.A 15-year-old boy, who was not identified because he is a juvenile, is also a suspect, police said."After their arrest, they were also looked at (in) a number of other cases. One of those cases was the disappearance and kidnapping of Laura Ayala," said Lt. Murray Smith, with HPD Homicide.While investigating the east end murders, detectives found blood, which turned out to be DNA of an unknown female.Investigators then asked the Ayala family for samples of Laura's DNA.Two days ago, Ayala's samples were matched to the scene."(We're) still trying to find Laura Ayala. She's still missing. It's very depressing news. I should caution you -- it's devastating news to the family. We're still going to keep looking until we recover her," Smith said.

The suspects are not cooperating with investigators, officials said. They have not been charged in connection with Ayala's disappearance.The suspects were charged with the capital murders of Roxana Capulin, 24, and Maria Rangel, 38, who were found on June. 1. They were also charged in the abduction and murder of Esmeralda Alvarado, 15, whose body was found on Jan. 22, 2002.Police said that Ayala was abducted some time after 10:15 p.m. Sunday, March 10, behind her family's apartment, located at 7939 Sarita in southeast Houston.She disappeared after she walked behind her apartment complex to a gas station to buy a newspaper for a school project.Ayala's mother later found her daughter's shoes along with the newspaper on the street near the gas station. The clerk at the station remembered selling her a newspaper.Volunteers have searched on foot and horseback in various locations around the Houston area since her disappearance, but have not found any clues.Police described Ayala as a Hispanic female, 4 feet tall, and weighing about 90 pounds. She has black, medium-length straight hair with brown highlights. She was last seen wearing a blue-checkered dress.Anyone with information about Ayala's disappearance or whereabouts is asked to call the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division at (713) 308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.A $19,000 reward is being offered in the case.

Laura Ayala
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/a/ayala_laura.html


Please call the Houston Police Department at 713-308-3600 if you have any information about LAURA AYALA
Or, call the Laura Recovery Center at 281-482-LRCF(5723) or 866-898-5723; FAX: 281-482-5727
Crime Stoppers of Houston (713-222-TIPS) is offering up to $19,000 for information leading to the arrest and charging of the suspects in this case.

Laura Ayala Page
http://www.geocities.com/farmgirl1032001/Laura_Ayala.html?200926
DOB Oct-29-1988 Age :19 years
Height :4' 0" - 122 cm
Weight :90 lbs - 41 kg
Eyes :Brown Hair : Brown

Ima

North American Missing Persons Network

http://www.nampn.org/cases/ayala_laura.html

Laura Recovery Center

http://www.lrcf.net/missing/424/424.html

Angelica Maria Gandara case

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/g/gandara_angelica.html
TX TX - Angelica Gandara, 11, Temple, 14 July 1985 - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community
http://doenetwork.org/cases/92dftx.html

"She was seen inside an unidentified pickup truck, accompanied by an unidentified Caucasian male and female. The witness told authorities that the truck's hood, front fender and bed were painted red and white. The doors were blue and white and the top of the truck was painted white. According to the witness, the vehicle was dirty, dented and in general disrepair."

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Male & Female Kidnappers
Work Truck (beat-up old trucks/Van)
Hispanic Female Brown Hair & Eyes
Roughly the same age
Similar body types
Both girls from TX
Both from towns along highway that lead to Mexico