Recent Sightings Spark Hope for Mark Ysasaga's Family
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: September 13, 2012
"We're hoping these sightings, that this time are true," said Anna Cuevas, Mark Ysasaga's mother, about recent sightings of her son. This is not the first time Cuevas has heard a sighting, and she hopes this time it will lead to her son.
According to an LPD statement released Thursday, a CrimeLine tip told police Ysasaga had been spotted in Abilene August 20th. Police investigated and had several credible sightings of Ysasaga in July and August.
It is then believed Ysasaga headed to San Angelo, where police have also said there were credible sightings since August 20th.
Ysasaga has been missing since June 14th. The sightings in Abilene have Cuevas wondering why her son would be there.
"We don't have anybody in Abilene. I don't know anybody as a friend, nothing, so we've been wondering this the whole time as well," said Cuevas.
Becky Garcia is a board member at La Fuerza, a group that has been supporting the Ysasaga family during their search. "The police wouldn't have issued a release if they didn't feel like it was a good lead, a strong and firm, a good lead," said Garcia. "We've had several leads in the past and none of them have been released and nothing has been brought to the attention of the media so we fell like hopefully this is the real deal."
Both Garcia and Cuevas say they won't stop looking until Ysasaga is home safe and sound.
Funding the search hasn't been easy for Cuevas, as money is needed for fliers and trips to towns, like Abilene, to continue looking. Donations have helped fund the efforts.
"This is not cheap, just going to Abilene put a dent in my pocketbook, I reached into my pockets also to pay for stuff," said Cuevas. And she says the situation has been hardest on her youngest son, who just started playing football like his big brother.
"He always ask me, do you think he's proud of me, of what I'm doing, he's actually wearing his number, so he's playing as hard as he can for him everyday," said Cuevas.
Ysasaga is still listed as a missing teen, and there is still a $2,000 reward for information that will lead to his whereabouts.
For more information about the family's search, you can visit the Facebook page.
According to an LPD statement released Thursday, a CrimeLine tip told police Ysasaga had been spotted in Abilene August 20th. Police investigated and had several credible sightings of Ysasaga in July and August.
It is then believed Ysasaga headed to San Angelo, where police have also said there were credible sightings since August 20th.
Ysasaga has been missing since June 14th. The sightings in Abilene have Cuevas wondering why her son would be there.
"We don't have anybody in Abilene. I don't know anybody as a friend, nothing, so we've been wondering this the whole time as well," said Cuevas.
Becky Garcia is a board member at La Fuerza, a group that has been supporting the Ysasaga family during their search. "The police wouldn't have issued a release if they didn't feel like it was a good lead, a strong and firm, a good lead," said Garcia. "We've had several leads in the past and none of them have been released and nothing has been brought to the attention of the media so we fell like hopefully this is the real deal."
Both Garcia and Cuevas say they won't stop looking until Ysasaga is home safe and sound.
Funding the search hasn't been easy for Cuevas, as money is needed for fliers and trips to towns, like Abilene, to continue looking. Donations have helped fund the efforts.
"This is not cheap, just going to Abilene put a dent in my pocketbook, I reached into my pockets also to pay for stuff," said Cuevas. And she says the situation has been hardest on her youngest son, who just started playing football like his big brother.
"He always ask me, do you think he's proud of me, of what I'm doing, he's actually wearing his number, so he's playing as hard as he can for him everyday," said Cuevas.
Ysasaga is still listed as a missing teen, and there is still a $2,000 reward for information that will lead to his whereabouts.
For more information about the family's search, you can visit the Facebook page.
