WILMER, Texas — The boy at the center of a Tuesday night AMBER Alert is believed to be with family members, the Wilmer Police Department announced Friday. His father, who is believed to have abducted him, is still wanted for the murder of the boy's mother after she was found dead earlier this week.
The Wilmer Police Department said Friday they have "reason to believe" that 10-year-old Ian Aguilar is now with family in Mexico and no longer with his father, 38-year-old Juan Aguilar-Cano, who is still wanted in the murder of Ian's mother and presumably at large in the country.
Wilmer PD says communication with Ian's family in Mexico has been "encouraging" and the department believes Ian is "OK."
Investigators didn't say where Ian was in Mexico or how they determined he was OK and that Aguilar-Cano wasn't with him.
The department said the investigation into his abduction and Aguilar-Cano will continue until they have "absolute verification" that Ian is no longer in danger.
"It would be our hope that Ian will be united with family members here [in Wilmer], sooner than later, so that we can actually see him and know he is safe with family and in familiar surroundings," the Wilmer Police Department said in a news release Friday.
Investigators are working with the U.S. Marshals and FBI to bring Ian home safely. Ian's sister, Zuri Lopez, said on social media Friday after the news surfaced that Ian is a U.S. citizen, autistic, requires a special diet and medications, and needs to be brought home immediately.
She asked for the U.S. Government to ensure his safe return home.
Ian's mother was identified by the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office on Thursday as 48-year-old Zuleika Arzate-Lopez. Lopez worked for the City of Dallas for 19 years in the Development Services department.
In a statement, the City of Dallas said, "Her department is grieving the news of her passing... her presence is sorely missed. Our deepest condolences are with her family, and we pray that Ian will be found safe and unharmed."
Officials said they believe Lopez's homicide occurred before the boy went missing on Nov. 14. Ian and Aguilar-Cano both remained missing until Friday's news.
Aguilar-Cano was reported last seen in Houston, Wilmer police said. The suspect vehicle both he and Ian were believed to be in was found abandoned at a Houston bus station. The bus company housed there frequently makes trips to Mexico.
The Texas Department of Public Safety issued the initial AMBER Alert for Ian on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 9:03 p.m., saying his father was the lead suspect in the boy's disappearance and the boy's mother.
The AMBER Alert said Ian was last seen around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 20 block of Oakdale Street in Wilmer. Wilmer is located about 15 miles southeast of Dallas. That is the same address where police found his mother's body.
Neighbors reported seeing Zuri Lopez, assisted by an officer, trying to enter the home to find Ian's mother and then making the horrific discovery around 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Lopez said she was frustrated police didn't go to the home earlier after a relative phoned 911 after receiving a call from Aguilar-Cano, who admitted he had done something terrible and "should kill himself."
Those same neighbors mentioned that Aguilar-Cano hadn't been himself lately. Lopez's daughter added that her mother was in a toxic relationship with Aguilar-Cano and that she had recently made plans to remove him from her life and their house.
Aguilar-Cano's last serious arrest came in 2008 when he was charged with evading arrest with a vehicle in Ennis. According to court records, he pleaded guilty in an agreement for two years probation.
CPS has found no previous calls about the child or the suspect in its records.
Wilmer police announced Thursday that they had been cooperating with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as part of their investigation and that their assistance "has proven to be extremely valuable."
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 911 or the Wilmer Police Department at 972-441-6565.