Day helps loved ones grieve missing, find hope Families connect to share stories of loss, sorrow

Although the ages varied, families with missing children shared the same grief on the steps of City Hall Sunday afternoon.

Five families gathered at the event, which was created last year for relatives to connect and share the stories of how their loved ones disappeared.

"Your child is your child, your loved one is your loved one - it doesn't matter what age they are or how long they've been gone - the sorrow that you feel is new again every day," said Beth Alberts, CEO of the Texas Center for the Missing.

Jo Ann Lowitzer, who organized the event, last saw her 16-year-old daughter Alexandria "Ali" Lowitzer in 2010. Ali last was seen getting off the bus after school and initially was labeled a runway by police. She was changed to an endangered person status two years later, moving it to the homicide division. Lowitzer would like the case reclassified to a runaway so that it would get more attention.

Although the label given to a missing person, whether runway or endangered, doesn't matter to loved ones, it matters in how the case is handled by authorities, Alberts said.

"The lack of assistance from law enforcement has severely hindered our investigation," Lowitzer said. "Ali deserves to be found. We are her best advocate."

Lowitzer submitted a proclamation in late 2014 to City Council to create a day to help remind people of those who have gone missing. Houston's Missing Person Day debuted on Feb. 3, 2015, to commemorate Ali's birthday.

Carolyn Martinez, left, and her sister, Gloria Esparza, console each other Sunday after the Missing Person Day event at City Hall﻿. Gloria's ﻿son, Ryan﻿, has been missing since June ﻿2007. ﻿ Carolyn Martinez, left, and her sister, Gloria Esparza, console each other Sunday after the Missing Person Day event at City Hall﻿. Gloria's ﻿son, Ryan﻿, has been missing since June ﻿2007. ﻿ Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Day helps loved ones grieve missing, find hope 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

"I want everybody to be aware that if you hear this on the news, you can turn the news off and go about your day, but this happens in real life - people just vanish," Lowitzer said. "This is mainly to make the public aware and for parents to keep a good eye on their kids."

According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, there are 90,000 active missing persons cases at any given time. The National Crime and Information Center estimates roughly 40 percent of its cases are children; among them is the 18-month-old son of Joshua Davis Sr.

Joshua Davis Jr., went missing Feb. 4, 2011 from his home in New Braunfels. Joshua's dad, mom, grandmother and three siblings traveled to Houston to participate in the event.

"Every day the pain is there, but it really hits me whenever I hear my (12-year-old) son, that hasn't seen him in five years, praying that his brother come home," Joshua Davis Sr. said. "Then I hear my son, that's 5 years old and has never met his brother, saying 'please Lord, bring Joshua home, and keep him safe, Amen.' That really hurts."

The missing boy would be 7 now.

Andy Kahan, a city of Houston victim advocate, reminded families that people can turn up after being missing for even 10 years. He encouraged them to never give up hope.

But for Danielle Sleeper's parents, who believe foul play was involved in their 32-year-old daughter's disappearance last year, remaining optimistic is difficult.

"Unlike most of you, we don't believe that our daughter will be coming back to us," Danielle's mother, Dina Street said. "But I think this is wonderful - that you have given us a voice, that we can come out and talk with people who know what we feel because all we hear when we talk to the detectives is 'we don't have any clues,' and that's the end of the discussion. We are grateful and we will keep looking and checking and we won't give up."

Kyle Rugg's family doesn't care how information surfaces about their missing son, who disappeared last year at the age of 20.

"We ask for someone, to make the phone call, send a message, leave a note on our door, however you want to share the information," Les, Kyle's father, said. "We just want to know where our Kyle is."

Ryan Esparza's mother, Gloria, said although her son's case sits untouched by authorities, she continutes searching for the now 25-year-old.

"I don't mourn him because nobody has ever declared him dead," Gloria Esparza said.

"Nobody's looking for him, but I am."