Alabama Mother and Two Children Feared Forcibly Taken from Home, Police Cite Signs of Struggle
MOBILE, Ala. — The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office has launched an intensive search for a family of three who vanished from their home under what investigators are calling "highly suspicious" circumstances, with clear indications of a struggle left behind.
Aurelia Choc Cac, 40, her 17-year-old daughter Niurka Zuleta Choc, and her 2-year-old son Anthony Garcia Choc were last seen at their residence on the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 30. Deputies responding to a welfare check on Saturday discovered the home empty but with visible signs of disturbance, prompting an immediate missing persons investigation.
"Based on the evidence at the scene, we strongly believe the mother and her children were taken against their will and could be in imminent danger," a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office stated in a press briefing. The department has not released specific details about the nature of the struggle but confirmed the finding is central to the investigation.
Initial leads focused on a 30-year-old man acquainted with Cac. However, after an interview with detectives on Sunday, he was reportedly cleared as a suspect. The Sheriff's Office emphasized that the investigation remains active and fluid, with several tips coming in from the public.
The family's sudden disappearance has rattled the local community. Cac is described as 5 feet tall, 140 lbs, with black hair, last seen in a maroon jacket and tan joggers. Niurka is 5'1", 100 lbs, with black hair, last wearing a black top and plaid pants. Anthony, 30 lbs with black hair, was last seen in a cartoon-character hoodie and blue jeans.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Mobile County Sheriff's Office tip line at 251-574-8633.
Community Reaction:
"This is every parent's nightmare. I drive by that street every day. We need to come together, share any little detail, and help bring this family home safely." — David Chen, local shop owner and father of two.
"The police cleared one person quickly, but what's the real story? A struggle in the home and then they're just gone? It feels like there's more to this, and the clock is ticking. The response needs to be massive, now." — Rebecca Vance, community activist and former paralegal.
"It's terrifying. A toddler involved... It makes you question safety in your own home. My heart is with that family, and I pray the authorities find them unharmed." — Pastor Michael Boyd of the Mobile Community Fellowship Church.
"This isn't just a missing persons case; it's a potential abduction. Where are the AMBER Alerts? The public needs more real-time information. The system seems to be moving too slowly when lives are clearly at stake." — Lisa Monroe, cybersecurity analyst and neighborhood watch coordinator.