NEW CANEY, Tx – A New Caney family is pleading for the public’s help finding a woman who has been missing for nearly two weeks as search-and-rescue crews comb a sprawling area near Highway 99 and FM 1485.
Maria Veronica Ortiz Estrada was last seen by family members around noon on July 20, according to her daughter, Carla Ortiz. A person who lives nearby reportedly saw her around 6 p.m. that day but said she appeared disoriented and unsure which direction to walk.
Recommended Videos
“She doesn’t know where she’s at most of the time,” Carla said. “Sometimes she doesn’t remember us, and we’re very concerned that she could be anywhere.”
Maria may also use the name Maria Veronica Ortiz. She was last seen wearing a blue Houston Texans jersey with the number 10 on the back, dark blue Adidas shorts and black sparkly Crocs in a size 7. Carla said her mother has short, thick hair and may have been carrying a plastic bag.
Carla said her mother has shown significant signs of dementia for approximately six years. Her condition appeared to worsen after she lost her job and her daily routine during the COVID-19 pandemic, around the same time her own mother died.
“She wants to go to her mom’s house,” Carla said. “Sometimes she doesn’t remember us.”
This is not the first time Maria has wandered away. Carla said her mother went missing last December but was found at a nearby park within 24 hours. This time, nearly two weeks have passed without her return.
Search-and-rescue teams spent hours Sunday searching near Highway 99 and FM 1485 using drones and ATVs. Family members and volunteers have also searched on foot and by bicycle.
“We’ve been on foot, on bikes, on drones, four-wheelers—everywhere in the nearby area,” Carla said. “But it’s a lot of acres to cover.”
The search has taken an emotional and physical toll on Maria’s family. Carla said they have lost sleep and their appetites while spending nearly every free moment checking social media for possible sightings.
“We’re desperate to find her,” she said. “Even if it’s not reliable, we still go.”
Carla is asking people to report possible sightings directly to 911 instead of relying solely on social media comments. She said that would allow authorities to respond quickly and determine whether the person seen is her mother.
The family has also tried playing some of Maria’s favorite music while searching. Carla said her mother enjoys listening to Vicente Fernández and that Sprite is her favorite drink. Maria responds to both Maria and Veronica.
The family is especially hoping Maria will return in time to celebrate her second grandchild’s birthday.
“We’ve really been wanting to celebrate it with her,” Carla said.
Anyone who sees Maria or has information about where she may be is asked to call 911 or 936-538-5900.