Executive Summary
- Maryuri Yolani Gomez Marquez, 15, has been missing since December 28 from Plains, Texas.
- The Texas DPS discontinued the AMBER Alert after receiving information that the pair may have left the country.
- Authorities are searching for a black 2010 Ford F-150 with Texas plate WGV-9997.
- Suspect Juan Orlando Garcia Sarmiento, 41, is wanted on related charges.
Authorities in West Texas have discontinued an AMBER Alert for a missing 15-year-old girl after receiving credible information suggesting she and a wanted man may have crossed international borders. Maryuri Yolani Gomez Marquez was last seen on the morning of December 28 in Plains, Texas, and is believed to be in the company of 41-year-old Juan Orlando Garcia Sarmiento.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the AMBER Alert was formally discontinued on January 2 at 4 p.m. While the alert has been lifted, the investigation remains active across multiple agencies. Local reporting by KCBD indicates that the Texas Rangers have obtained information leading investigators to believe the pair has left the United States. The Yoakum County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that local partners are continuing efforts to locate the teenager.
Investigators have identified the vehicle associated with the pair as a black 2010 Ford F-150 crew cab bearing Texas license plate WGV-9997. Maryuri is described as a Hispanic female, approximately 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 125 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Garcia Sarmiento is currently wanted by law enforcement on charges related to the case, according to statements released by the Yoakum County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigative Outlook
The discontinuation of the AMBER Alert and the shift toward international leads suggests a significant transition in the jurisdictional scope of this investigation. Typically, AMBER Alerts are utilized for immediate, local, and regional public mobilization. When subjects are believed to have crossed international boundaries, the focus often shifts to federal cooperation and coordination with foreign law enforcement entities to track movements and facilitate safe recovery. Despite the alert’s cancellation, the Yoakum County Sheriff’s Office and Texas DPS continue to solicit public tips. It is important to note that all individuals, including Garcia Sarmiento, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
