Marine veteran still missing two years after vanishing on I-10

ANTHONY, N.M. (KVIA) -- A Marine's family has been seeking answers for his whereabouts. Juan Merlos left his hometown of Houston two years ago, and his family is asking the Borderland community if they may have seen him.

Merlos left Houston on Aug. 20, 2024, at 4:59 p.m., his family said. His truck, a blue Chervrolet Silverado, was last seen on the I-10 near Mile Marker 161, which is close to Anthony, Texas, and New Mexico. Police said a license plate leader in Anthony, New Mexico, caught his license plate.

He was last seen in Love's Travel Stop. A worker watched Juan drive away and noted he drove toward a motel across the street.

Police also learned Juan made two phone calls to his friends in Los Angeles that he planned to visit. The calls weren't answered, and he didn't leave a message. Both friends tried calling him back, but were sent straight to voicemail.

AT&T, Merlos' phone provider, said his phone last had service on Aug. 21. His phone eighter died, powered off or had its SIM card removed.

Merlos was 36 years old when he disappeared. His sister, Jackie, told ABC-7 he served in the Marines for six years and moved to Houston to be closer to family.

Jackie said Juan isn't the type of person to leave without notice, and he even had a trip planned for the week after he left Houston. She said he was almost like a father to her, on top of being a brother.

"He was the protector of the family. He was a big brother of five," his 13-year-old nephew, Eli, said. "He was like a father to me, too."

ABC-7 asked Eli if he often finds himself thinking about his uncle.

"When I see a picture of him, I think of him, I miss him. I just don't think about it that much because I don't want to you know, tear up," he said.

Jackie and Eli told ABC-7 they had plans with Juan the weekend of his disappearance.

His family said Merlos was diagnosed with PTSD after he returned from Iraq.

Right before Merlos' disappearance, his family was already navigating tremendous loss and uncertainty. Just weeks earlier, they had lost a family member, while another had been diagnosed with kidney cancer.

ABC-7 went to the Loves gas station in Anthony where Juan was last seen. ABC-7 spoke to the police and Chief Hernandez who have been working on the search.