A desperate search is underway as a Texas father seeks any information that could uncover the fate of his 24-year-old daughter, missing for several weeks now. The young woman, Sydney Marquez, vanished in the Chinatown district of southwest Houston on December 11. Her last known appearance was near a bustling shopping center on the 9100 block of Bellaire Blvd, as reported by Houston police.

In the days following her disappearance, KHOU 11 revealed that security cameras captured Sydney walking along Ranchester Drive, heading north on a sidewalk. Tim Miller from Texas EquuSearch noted that Sydney’s demeanor in the footage appeared calm and untroubled. “It didn’t seem like she was in distress; it was a normal walk, neither hurried nor staggering,” Miller commented.

Her father, Raul Marquez, has expressed concerns that Sydney was in an area with a diverse population, where potential witnesses might hesitate to come forward, fearing repercussions related to their immigration status. Raul’s plea for assistance underscores the urgency and complexity of the situation, hoping to reach out to anyone who might hold vital information about his daughter’s whereabouts.

“It didn’t look like she was in distress, like a normal walk, not running, not staggering, it certainly appeared to be a normal, normal walk,” Tim Miller with Texas EquuSearch said.

Sydney’s father, Raul Marquez, said she had been in a diverse area of town and people may be afraid of coming forward, due to their immigration status.

“If you see my daughter, if she’s endangered. Please don’t stay quiet,” her father, Raul Marquez, said. “If you see something, if you know something, please say something. I miss my daughter. She needs to come home.”

“They may be scared to reach out because of their immigration status. But if you see something, if you know something, please say something.”

Chron reports that Sydney had traveled from El Paso to Houston, to meet up with a friend. She left behind her phones, makeup, and clothes, inside her abandoned car in the Southwest Houston neighborhood.

Family members said Sydney suffers from mental health issues had been off her medication when she walked away. Her father said she has wandered off before.

At least one friend has been questioned and is said to have been cooperating with authorities.

“He was 100 percent cooperating and the father and him actually went to HPD and really questioned him and everything, I think they did everything that was necessary to do,” Miller told KHOU.

Sydney recently graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in neuroscience. She’s described as standing 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighing around 120 pounds. She has short reddish, brown hair, wears glasses and has a four-leaf clover tattoo on her left wrist.

Houston police are urging anyone with information to contact them at 832-394-1840 or Texas Equusearch at 281-309-9500.

Check back for updates.

[Feature Photo via Houston PD]