In this week’s Missing in Houston, we are spotlighting ten unsolved cases of individuals who disappeared between 2000 and 2010.
Each case highlights the stories of men and women who went missing from the Houston area, leaving their families searching for answers. Authorities and loved ones continue to seek information that could help bring closure and shed light on their whereabouts.
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Tot Tran Harriman
Tot Tran Harriman, known as “Totsy,” has been missing since July 12, 2001. The 57-year-old woman was last seen leaving her son’s home in League City, around 5 a.m. She had planned to travel along Route 35 between League City and Corpus Christi but never arrived at her destination.
Harriman, an Asian woman with black hair streaked with gray, is 4′9″ to 5′0″ tall, weighs 100-130 pounds, and has a surgical scar on her abdomen. She was believed to be wearing a shirt, shorts, and sandals at the time of her disappearance.
Her metallic rose 1995 Lincoln Continental, with custom Florida plates reading “TOTSY” and a Navy Seal emblem, is also missing. Despite searches, neither Harriman nor her vehicle have been found.
If you have any information on Harriman’s whereabouts, please contact the League City Police Department.
Gabriel Espinoza
Gabriel Espinoza, 59, was last seen on April 23, 2001, at his place of employment on the 7500 Block of Sherman St. in Houston. Standing 5′4″ and weighing 150 pounds, Gabriel has distinct tattoos, including a Lady of Guadalupe on his forearm, a rose on his left hand, and several others on his wrists and finger. He also bears scars on his chest and forehead.
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When Gabriel didn’t show up for work, his employer contacted his family. Concern grew, and his sister officially reported him missing on May 9, 2001. If you have any information, please contact the Houston Police Department.
Guillermo “Willie” Rodriguez
Guillermo “Willie” Rodriguez, a 48-year-old man with a mental disability, has been missing since October 9, 2001. He wandered away from Riojas Personal Care Home in Atascosa without his medication and hasn’t been seen since.
Despite efforts to locate him, no leads have surfaced in over two decades, leaving his family desperate for answers. Rodriguez was last seen wearing a black and white hooded sweater, blue jeans, and brown boots. His family remains hopeful that someone with information will come forward to help solve this long-standing mystery.
Melvin “Pud” Eugene Butler
Melvin “Pud” Eugene Butler, a 46-year-old man, has been missing since March 10, 2002. He was last seen in the Spring Branch area of Houston, where he was visiting friends before planning to stop in Brenham to purchase a motorcycle.
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His Chevy pickup truck was found abandoned a few blocks from his friend’s house, and he has not been seen or heard from since. Butler, who has several distinct scars and a missing right finger, is believed to have met with foul play.
Laura Ayala
Thirteen-year-old Laura Ayala was last seen on March 10, 2002, after leaving her Houston apartment around 10 p.m. to buy a newspaper at a nearby gas station. Witnesses saw her at the store, but she never made it back home. Her shoes and the newspaper were later discovered in a parking lot near the gas station.
In 2002, three men were arrested for the murders of other women, and investigators found DNA matching Laura’s in a van owned by the men. However, there was insufficient evidence to charge them with her abduction. Despite these developments, Laura’s case remains unsolved, and authorities continue to search for any leads that could provide answers to her disappearance.
Charlene Cecelia Couture
Charlene Cecelia Couture, 35, has been missing from Rosenberg since March 1, 2007. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, she had recently moved to Texas, living with a female roommate and two men. While her roommate eventually returned to Minnesota, Charlene was not with her, and she wasn’t reported missing until 2012. Authorities believe she was murdered.
Despite searches conducted in a rural property along the Brazos River, no evidence has been found. Investigators have two persons of interest, one of whom is deceased and the other currently incarcerated. Charlene, who also went by the names Butterfly, Chez, and Cruz, was 5′7″, weighed 170 pounds, and had several distinctive scars and tattoos.
If you have any information, please contact the Fort Bend County Sheriff at 281-341-4665.
Cher-Lon Denice Goodman
Cher-Lon Denice Goodman, known as “Cricket,” was last seen on August 26, 2008, in Conroe. That day, she called her daughter in tears, saying she planned to leave her boyfriend. Despite her daughter’s efforts to contact her, Cher-Lon vanished, and she wasn’t reported missing until February 2, 2010.
At the time of her disappearance, Cher-Lon was 40 years old, 5′2″, and weighed 115 pounds. She has several tattoos, including a wizard on her chest and “Donnie” on her left ankle. Known to struggle with drug addiction and mental health issues, Cher-Lon’s family is still searching for answers.
Anyone with information about her disappearance is urged to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
Larry Richard Baker
Larry Richard Baker, also known as “Jake,” has been missing since January 29, 2010. The 54-year-old was last seen at his residence in Cleveland around 1 a.m. when he stepped out onto his porch and never returned.
Baker was wearing a black ball cap and white sneakers with blue trim at the time of his disappearance. Despite efforts from law enforcement and his family, no trace of him has been found. Authorities are urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.
Alexandria “Ali” Lowitzer
Alexandria “Ali” Lowitzer, 16, was last seen around 3 p.m. on April 26, 2010, after getting off her school bus at Knotting Post and Low Ridge Road in Spring. She had planned to walk a few blocks to her job at a nearby restaurant to pick up her paycheck but never made it.
Concerned when she didn’t return home, her mother sent multiple texts, but Alexandria never responded. Her personal belongings, including her makeup, phone charger, and clothes, were found in her room, and her phone hasn’t been used since. Despite searches and investigations, no leads or sightings have surfaced regarding her disappearance.
READ MORE: 14 years later, Ali Lowitzer remains missing without a trace
Irene Alvarez Porras
Irene Alvarez Porras, 54, has been missing since August 13, 2010, when she was last seen by her ex-husband and son at their residence in the 12300 block of De Forrest Street in Houston. She was wearing a white t-shirt and sweatpants at the time of her disappearance.
Irene’s cell phone was later discovered at a construction site near Beltway 8 and US-59 North on August 21, 2010, raising concerns about her safety. Foul play is suspected, and authorities are continuing to investigate.
If you would like your missing loved one to be featured in “Missing in Houston” series, please email hgalvan@kprc.com.
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