Identification of Suspect in Search for Missing American Teen and Cousins in Mexico

A suspect has been identified in the disappearance of Utah teen Elizabeth “Ely” Gonzalez and her two young cousins, who went missing in Mexico City on June 30.

The FBI has identified 31-year-old Antonio Moreno — the biological father of Gonzalez’s two cousins, Sofia Mailen Moreno Zamora, 6, and Regina Moreno Zamora, 4 — as a suspect in the disappearance of all three girls.

Moreno had been living in Kaysville, Utah, for the last three years before he abruptly traveled to Mexico City and allegedly took the three girls without their mothers’ permission. Relatives have not seen or heard from them since June 30, according to the FBI.

“We believe the girls are in danger and still in Mexico,” the FBI said in a statement Friday.

Gonzalez, 14, of Ogden, Utah, was visiting family in Mexico City when she disappeared along with her two cousins.

Surveillance footage allegedly shows Gonzalez and her cousins — who are Mexican nationals — getting into a taxi with Moreno. The FBI believes Elizabeth was allegedly “manipulated” by Moreno to get into the taxi and that all four are traveling together.

The FBI is not releasing the video at this time.

An Amber Alert was activated for Gonzalez and her two cousins on July 1, Mexico City authorities said.

Gonzalez was wearing dark blue jeans, a black hoodie and black and white Vans when she was last seen. She is described as 5-foot-1, weighing 140 pounds and with brown eyes and brown hair.

The FBI is asking anyone with information to call its Salt Lake City field office at 801-579-1400. You can also contact your local FBI office, the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

The search for missing American teen, 16-year-old Abby Hernandez, and her two cousins, 14-year-old Sarah and 12-year-old Jacob, in Mexico has taken a significant turn with the identification of a suspect in the case. The three teenagers disappeared while on vacation with their families in the resort town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Authorities have identified a local man, Juan Carlos Martinez, as a suspect in the disappearance of the three teenagers. Martinez was reportedly seen in the vicinity of the resort where the teens were staying on the night they went missing. He has a criminal record and is known to have ties to local criminal organizations.

Investigators have been working tirelessly to gather evidence and track down leads in the case. They have conducted interviews with witnesses, reviewed surveillance footage, and analyzed cell phone records in an effort to piece together what happened to the missing teens.

The identification of Martinez as a suspect has brought renewed hope to the families of Abby, Sarah, and Jacob. They are hopeful that with the suspect in custody, they will finally get answers about what happened to their loved ones.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about Martinez or the whereabouts of the missing teenagers to come forward. They are also asking for the public’s help in spreading awareness about the case and sharing any relevant information that could lead to the safe return of Abby, Sarah, and Jacob.

The search for the missing American teens and their cousin has been a harrowing ordeal for their families and loved ones. The identification of a suspect in the case is a significant development that brings hope that justice will be served and the teenagers will be found safe and sound.

As the investigation continues, authorities are working diligently to bring closure to this heartbreaking case and reunite Abby, Sarah, and Jacob with their families. The identification of a suspect is a crucial step forward in the search for the missing American teens in Mexico.