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Flores, Zulma Yadira 1/18/2003; Round Lake, Illinois
Topic Started: Jan 18 2008, 05:14 PM (160 Views)
meggilyweggily
Advanced Member
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http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun...ULMA_S1.article

5 years later, Round Lake teen remains missing
Troubled teen had history of running away

January 18, 2008
By KELLY MAHONEY Kmahoney@scn1.com

ROUND LAKE -- Zulma Flores wasn't a perfect child.

In a 15-month period, the Round Lake Police Department was called in to deal with her 57 times.

Endangered runaway

Name: Zulma Yadira Flores

Sex: Female

Date of Birth: Sept. 1, 1989

Missing: Jan. 19, 2003

Age now: 18

Height: 5 feet

Weight: 100 pounds

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Black

Race: White/Hispanic

She has a scar above one eyebrow.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Zulma Flores should call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children hot line at (800) 843-5678 or the Round Lake Police Department at (847) 270-9111.

"It does raise a big red flag," Police Chief Cliffton Metaxa said Thursday. "Anyone who's having that many contacts with the police needs a social worker."

But for the time being, social workers can't help Flores. She will be missing for five years on Saturday.

The police contacts, which began in October 2001 and ended when she ran away at the age of 13, include 18 previous runaway complaints and 22 curfew issues.

"This is not a case of an abducted child or a case of foul play," Metaxa said. "This is a habitual runaway."

However, all of Flores' previously reported runaway incidents were for less than one day.

Metaxa said Flores, now 18 years old, was last seen at the Round Lake residence she shared with her father, who no longer lives there and whose location is unknown. She has no known siblings, and the location of Flores' mother is unknown.

"He did his best as a single parent," Metaxa said about Flores' father. "He really did everything he thought he could do."

Flores was a first- generation American, which Metaxa said he speculates may have created some problems at home.

"There's different expectations for a child that's a first-generation American," Metaxa said. "They're not meeting the expectations of the parent and there's friction."

At the time of her disappearance, Flores was dating a man four years older than her, according to Charles Pickett, a senior case manager for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

"They always suspected that she left with a male," Pickett said. "They've never developed any information that led them to charge the suspect."

Metaxa said the man was questioned when Flores was reported missing. But in September 2007, a warrant was issued for his arrest in an unrelated incident.

"When he is arrested, I have his warrant flagged so I can speak with him," Metaxa said. "It might not be as important to him five years later."

Police have looked for her name in U.S. databases such as driver's license registrations with no results. Pickett said there has been speculation Flores may have left the country.

"It surely would be nice on the plus side if we found her in a little town down there in Mexico and she lives with him and she's OK," Pickett said.

Metaxa said there is no evidence she is in Mexico, however.

"That would be an assumption someone made because of her nationality," Metaxa said.

There is no evidence Flores was the victim of foul play.

"There are no suspicious circumstances, there is nothing to indicate anything happened other than she's gone," Metaxa said, adding that he has not received any tips, but the investigation will remain open.

"We've exhausted everything and done everything we can do," he said. "It will remain open until we can speak with her."

Metaxa said he is optimistic that Flores is safe.

"Hopefully, she's living a successful life somewhere," Metaxa said. "If she's out there, contact us and let us know and we can go to great lengths to contact her dad to let him know."
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meggilyweggily
Advanced Member
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http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/f/flores_zulma.html

Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

# Missing Since: January 19, 2003 from Round Lake, Illinois
# Classification: Endangered Runaway
# Date of Birth: September 1, 1989
# Age: 13 years old
# Height and Weight: 5'0, 100 pounds
# Distinguishing Characteristics: Hispanic female. Black hair, brown eyes. Flores has a scar over one of her eyebrows. The word "RIP" is tattooed on her right shoulder blade.
# Clothing/Jewelry Description: A blue sweatshirt and jeans.

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Details of Disappearance

Flores was last seen in Round Lake, Illinois on January 19, 2003. She has never been heard from again. She is believed to have left of her own accord. Flores may be traveling with a male companion. She may be in the Austin, Texas area. She is believed to be affiliated with the street gang Los Surenos 13. Flores's case remains unsolved. Texas authorities are assisting with the investigation into her disappearance.

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Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Round Lake Police Department
847-270-9111
OR
Texas Department of Public Safety
800-346-3243

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Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Texas Department of Public Safety
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