WILMER, TX – Texas authorities have initiated a statewide search for a 10-year-old boy, Ian Aguilar, who is suspected to have been abducted by his father, 38-year-old Juan Aguilar-Cano. The father is also the prime suspect in a murder investigation, believed to have killed the boy’s mother.
The Amber Alert was issued on Tuesday night, with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department leading the investigation. The vehicle they were believed to be traveling in, a tan 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe with Texas plate KVZ1194, has been found, but the whereabouts of the boy and his father remain unknown.
The identity of the deceased mother has not been released by the authorities. However, local residents reported to media outlets that a family member discovered her body inside the mobile home she shared with Aguilar and Aguilar-Cano on Oakdale Street.
Wilmer Police expressed grave concerns for Aguilar’s safety. “The case initially came to our attention as a welfare issue. However, upon further investigation, it became clear that a homicide had occurred. Our primary concern now is for the safety of the 10-year-old boy,” stated Wilmer Police Chief Victor Kemp.
The murder investigation is being handled by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, as the Wilmer Police Department does not have a dedicated homicide unit. Both Child Protective Services and the police have confirmed that they had never previously been called to the family’s residence. Aguilar-Cano’s criminal records do not indicate a history of violent behavior.
Aguilar-Cano is described by a neighbor as a “family-friendly, helpful person”. He is around 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs approximately 160 pounds, and has black hair and eyes. Aguilar, a student at Dallas ISD’s Eddie Bernice Johnson STEM Academy, is around 4 feet tall with black hair and brown eyes.
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department has urged anyone with information to immediately contact 911 or the Wilmer Police Department at 972-441-6565.