The Lost Girls

MISSING GIRLS

Marisol & Ana de la Rosa

Now 18 and 17

Disappeared after work from Monterrey, Mexico

Possibly in southern or western Texas

Marisol is fluent in Spanish, English, and French; she has an oblong birthmark on her right forearm. She’s approximately five foot four, with black hair and hazel eyes.

Ana is deaf in her right ear. She is approximately five foot five, black hair and hazel eyes.

Both girls are devout Catholics and if in trouble, may seek help from a church, priest, or nun. Both girls wear a unique sterling-silver locket with a Celtic trinity circle on one side and a cross on the other. Inside the locket is this photo plus a photo of their parents, who died in a mudslide six years ago. They went to work in Monterrey to earn money to help rebuild the village and disappeared seven months later.

Call Siobhan Walsh, Sisters of Mercy, with any information. Can remain anonymous. $1,000 reward for verified information.

“You called Ms. Walsh because of the number on the back of the photo in the locket and she came?”

“Yes, I called her late Thursday, after we returned from the hospital, and she was here Friday night. I met her at the hospital; she wanted to see the baby. She is staying in Laredo, but has been here each day. Yesterday I told Siobhan about what Mrs. Hernandez said, and she went to talk to her.”

“You didn’t go?”

“She said she wanted to do it alone. She called, said if she didn’t call me again after an hour, for me to call Mr. Stockton and gave me a number.”

Noah was taking notes. “Just to make sure I understand correctly: You found the baby early Thursday morning. You took the baby to the hospital in Laredo, which is nearly an hour away. Then you returned, contacted Siobhan Walsh because of the number on the locket. She came immediately.”

“Yes. These girls”-he tapped the flyer-“Marisol and Ana. They are her friends, she’s very concerned about them. No one has heard from them in over two years. Siobhan said this is her best lead. That one of these girls left the baby, the locket, her number.”

“So you don’t have any pregnant women in the parish who may have left the baby?”

He shook his head sadly. “This is a small, old parish. There’s a new community being built in town, and we’re getting younger families, but most of my parishioners are older. We have one girl who’s pregnant, but she is a longtime parishioner. I baptized her, married her ten years ago, this is her second baby. I know her, her husband, her parents, his parents-and as far as I know, she hasn’t had the baby. She told me she’s due in November, wanted to make sure I would still be here to baptize the child.”

He sighed. “That will likely be my last. I move to Tucson, to retire, in January.”

Noah stood. “Thank you for your time. I appreciate your help, and we may call with additional questions.”

“Anything I can do to help, Agent Armstrong, anything.”

Lucy and Noah left.

“Thoughts?” Noah asked.

Lucy had many, but they were still forming. “We should talk to the doctor, the police in Laredo, find out what they know.”

“Agreed. Let’s find out what Ms. Walsh has to tell us and see if we can keep her out of jail.”