The Eyrie

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — More than three years after 11-year-old Andrew Escobar disappeared during what was supposed to be an overnight visit with his mother, the boy has been found alive and unharmed, authorities said. Police located Andrew in El Paso, Texas, after his mother tried to cross from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on July 2, 2026.

The discovery brought an end to a long search that began in June 2023, when Andrew did not return home as planned. His father, Juan Escobar, had been awarded custody during his divorce from Miriam Felix-Delgado, and he quickly feared that his son had been taken out of state. What followed was a yearslong effort involving local, state and federal authorities, along with a private search campaign by the family.

How Andrew disappeared after a routine visit with his mother

Andrew was supposed to spend the night with Felix-Delgado and then return to his father the next day. Instead, he never came home. Juan Escobar later told KOAT that he was meant to pick up his son but did not get the chance, and when he tried again about a week later, he learned Felix-Delgado’s phone had been disconnected.

Once he realized Andrew was missing, Juan reported the case to Albuquerque police. The department brought in the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI as the search widened. The disappearance unfolded during divorce proceedings, and investigators later believed Felix-Delgado had taken the boy away after losing custody to Juan.

Juan said he and Andrew had been especially close, describing the two as best friends who spent a lot of time together making videos and joking around. That bond, he said, made the disappearance even harder to bear.

A private search trail led investigators across state lines

Juan also hired a private investigator, who tracked Felix-Delgado and Andrew to Fort Collins, Colorado. By the time Juan arrived there, the pair had already moved on, according to the family’s account of the search.

The investigator later found that Felix-Delgado had sold her belongings and changed her name to Sophia Shelton. Andrew’s name had also been changed, to Oliver Shelton. Those findings deepened concern that the mother and son had moved repeatedly to avoid detection.

For years, Juan and his wife, Monique Escobar, pressed the case publicly. They gave interviews, organized community events and quit their jobs so they could focus on finding Andrew. Juan repeatedly asked for help in keeping his son’s name in the public eye, saying the family would keep looking until he came home.

Public pressure grew as the search turned into a national example

The family’s push for answers eventually drew support beyond New Mexico. State Sen. Jay Block publicly urged the boy’s safe return, telling lawmakers during a legislative session that Andrew was more than a case number and asking them to say his name and share his story.

The case also became an example of family abduction, commonly called parental kidnapping. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, parental abductions accounted for 61% of all AMBER Alerts issued nationwide in 2024 and 59% in 2023.

Family law attorney Atty K. Bruggemann said these cases are often mistaken for private custody fights when they can become far more serious. She said children may be cut off from school, medical care, relatives and friends, and may also be emotionally manipulated while they are away.

Experts say custody abductions can spiral quickly

Ray Johnson, a fellow at the Center for Crime and Justice Policy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a retired FBI agent, said parental abductions often begin during highly tense separations or custody disputes. In those moments, one parent may feel desperate, marginalized or afraid and decide to take control by removing the child.

Johnson said the crime does not fit a single family profile. He described it as crossing income levels, education backgrounds and geography, with mothers and fathers alike responsible in different cases. In his view, the only common denominator is parental status.

That broader context helped explain why the Escobar case drew so much attention. It was not simply a missing-child investigation, but a long-running custody and identity case that crossed state and international lines before authorities located Andrew again.

Border agents found Andrew as his mother tried to enter Texas

The case ended on July 2, 2026, when border patrol agents identified Andrew as a missing person during the crossing from Ciudad Juarez into El Paso. Agents took both him and Felix-Delgado into custody, finally confirming that the boy was safe after more than three years away.

Juan was at work when he got the news and said he broke down crying. He and Monique rushed to El Paso to reunite with Andrew, although the family said the emotional homecoming was only the first step in a longer recovery process.

Andrew had reportedly traveled widely while with his mother, including to Albania, Austria and Turkey. His father said Andrew was physically fine but had spent years in what he described as a constant fight-or-flight state. Family attorney Darlene Gomez said there are still many unknowns as the family gets to know one another again at different paces.

Felix-Delgado faces custodial interference charge in New Mexico

Prosecutors charged Felix-Delgado with one count of custodial interference, a fourth-degree felony under New Mexico law. The charge carries a possible sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

She was released on a $1,000 bond and must wear a GPS monitor, follow pretrial supervision and avoid contact with Andrew and other witnesses. The criminal case is now moving forward as the family focuses on Andrew’s recovery and the difficult process of rebuilding trust after years apart.

For Juan Escobar, the search that once seemed endless ended with a call he had been waiting years to hear. After years of uncertainty, investigators had found his son alive, bringing the family’s long public plea for help to a close.