AMBER ALERT:17 YEAR OLD TEXAS GIRL (UPDATE)

by Bob Dunn, Nov 03, 2007, 06 52 AM

Fort Bend County Sheriff’s detectives believe a missing Needville area teenager has been abducted by her estranged boyfriend, a sheriff’s spokeswoman said Friday night.

Missing is Adelene Ruiz, 17, who was last seen Wednesday night leaving The Swinging Door restaurant at 3714 F.M. 359, north of Richmond, where she worked. She was last seen wearing a gray and black T-shirt with the words “The Swinging Door,” blue jeans and white tennis shoes, according to a sheriff’s report.

Sheriff’s spokeswoman Terriann Carlson said on Saturday that Ruiz’s red 2003 Ford pickup truck was recovered Friday in the Richmond area, and detectives are processing it for forensic evidence.

Carlson issued a statement Friday night saying detectives believe that Ruiz’s estranged boyfriend, Charlie Lucas Zelaya, 19, of the Richmond area, has abducted the girl.

The department issued an amber alert Friday night, asking law enforcement officials and the public to be on the lookout for Zelaya’s vehicle, a white 1999 Ford pickup truck with an extended cab and Texas license plate number 9XN-Z50. According to Carlson’s statement, the truck has some damage at the right rear of the vehicle.

Ruiz is believed to be in the white truck with Zelaya, Carlson said in the statement, adding that detectives learned Zelaya “is very possessive and controlling and has threatened Adalene’s life if she ever left him.”

On Saturday, Carlson said detectives working the case aren’t willing to discuss information about Zelaya’s possible location. However, she added, “I think they’re going to need all the media attention they can get.”

Zelaya has an outstanding warrant for charges of aggravated kidnapping, Class A family violence and contempt of court, the sheriff’s statement said. It was unclear early Saturday if the kidnapping charge is related to Ruiz’s disappearance.

According to Carlson’s statement, Zelaya was scheduled to appear in court on Friday related to a protective order Ruiz had filed. He didn’t appear at the hearing.

Anyone who has seen Zelaya’s truck or has any information about the case can call the sheriff’s department at 281-341-4665, or call anonymously at Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers, 281-342-8477.