By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer
The Oceanside Police Department is actively seeking the public’s help in locating Rudy Moya, a 15-year-old student at El Camino High School, who has been missing since December 16. The case was reported to the police by Rudy’s mother, who found a note from him stating that he was moving out.
Rudy Moya is described as a 15-year-old boy with black hair and brown eyes, standing at 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 165 pounds. The family has identified him as a missing teen, he was last seen in the 1400 block of Carmelo Drive in Oceanside and may have entered a gray Toyota Camry.
The police have engaged various resources in their search efforts, including tracking Rudy’s phone, visiting friends’ houses, entering his information into the Missing Person System (Nationwide), and issuing a countywide Be-on-the-Lookout (BOLO). Despite these efforts, Rudy Moya’s whereabouts remain unknown.
To aid in the investigation, the Oceanside Police Department released a news release urging media attention on the case. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Jeff Vandenberg at (760) 435-4692.
A facebook page has been set up by his mother Called “Bring Rudy Home” and his flyer has been circulated on various social media sites and foundations, including the Black and Missing Foundation.
How can YOU help?
Additionally, the family has listed the following list as ways the community can help in bringing their son home safely. Easy ways to help:
- “Like” AND “follow the “Bring Rudy Home” facebook page. The more that do both, the more exposure.
- Copy and Paste the URL for the “Bring Rudy Home” facebook page to share with others.
- Print and post Rudy’s Flyers at your work and favorite places to go.
- Contact religious/ public organizations to ask them to do the same.
- Attend his vigil every Saturday night at the Oceanside Pier.
- Donate to the fund that pays for advertising, investigation and a reward for any information leading to finding Rudy: https://gofund.me/ceb71d36
Members of the public and community leaders are encouraged to come out and support his Mother at his Saturday night Vigil, on January 6 at the Oceanside Pier.
Moreso, California recently passed a new law that went into effect on Jan. 1 called the Ebony Alert. The notification system is for missing Black children and young people in an effort to address the disparity and overrepresentation in missing persons cases. The alert system will be used for Black people aged 12-15 and is applicable to people who are reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, or who have been abducted. In addition, the alert will also apply to situations where the missing person is disabled, cognitively impaired or otherwise at risk.
According to statistics from Black and Missing, nearly 40 percent of missing people are people of color, despite accounting for only 13 percent of the population. 4,466 children are considered missing in San Diego, the majority of these cases are runaways (4,349).
