Case Details
- Photo URLs:
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- Missing Since:
- Missing Since 04/27/1983
- Missing From:
- Missing From El Paso, Texas
- Classification:
- Classification Non-Family Abduction
- Gender:
- Male
- Race:
- Race Hispanic
- Date of Birth:
- Date of Birth 01/30/1969 (55)
- Age:
- Age 14 years old
- Height and Weight:
- Height and Weight 4’8 – 4’10, 95 – 110 pounds
- Clothing/Jewelry Description:
- Clothing/Jewelry Description A blue t-shirt and blue jeans.
- Distinguishing Characteristics:
- Distinguishing Characteristics Hispanic male. Brown hair, brown eyes. Ruben’s nickname is Ru. He has a freckled complexion and his hair has a reddish tint. Some agencies give his middle name as Robert or Roberto.
- Details of Disappearance:
- Ruben disappeared on April 7, 1983, in El Paso, Texas. He was walking to school but never arrived. His mom reported him missing. A friend saw him running later that day.
Someone called Ruben’s wealthy uncle, Miguel, demanding a $300,000 ransom. The caller knew family secrets, suggesting they were close to the family. The ransom drop was set for a Denny’s restaurant, but it didn’t happen.
The police got involved. Two days later, another call led them to Ruben’s stepfather’s brother, Raymond Acosta. Acosta was arrested; he had a warrant out for bank robbery. In his car, police found a map showing where to leave the ransom money. Acosta claimed Ruben was dead but wouldn’t say where the body was. He was convicted of conspiracy to kidnap.
Two weeks before Ruben disappeared, someone broke into his grandmother’s house and tried to grab her. Ruben’s mom thought Acosta was responsible, but he wasn’t charged with that.
Another man, Mario Martinez, was arrested for also demanding a ransom, but he was released for lack of evidence.
In 2013, a man in South America claimed to be Ruben, but his identity wasn’t confirmed.
Despite the arrests and investigations, Ruben’s disappearance remains a mystery. Police suspect foul play.
- Agency:
- El Paso Police Department 915-564-7022
- Source Links:
This person was missing Missing Since 04/27/1983