Body found during search for missing 14-year-old in southeast Houston; Homicide detectives

HOUSTON – On Saturday morning, Texas EquuSearch officials say they came across a body along the fence line in the 2000 block of Firnat Street.

Homicide investigators were called in to investigate.

“As far as the positive ID is on the body. We do not know. We didn’t touch the body or search it,” Detective Kyle Hiverlo said.

Police say the search may be linked to Carlos Lugos. The 14-year-old was last seen about two weeks ago in the 2000 block of Tidwell Road.

“According to the mother, she dropped off her son in the area to meet friends. she left him [and] then heard nothing more about him. It didn’t look like him. He will call and get in touch with her, and she said she hasn’t heard from him for about two weeks,” Khiverlo said.

The Missing Persons Unit of the Houston Police Department opened an investigation into the case and contacted Texas EquuSearch, which recovered the man’s body on Saturday. Police say it’s not yet clear if it’s a man or a woman.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty right now, but it’s a really frustrating situation across the board,” detectives said.

It’s unclear how the man died, but a neighbor who lives near the scene says he heard gunshots on Wednesday.

“And then I thought it sounded really close, and then this white Chevy comes down the street and it’s a dead end, you know. Not many cars pass here, unless you live here,” the man said.

It’s unclear if the body found is the missing teenager’s, and detectives say they don’t know if it’s involved in a criminal game.

The man’s body was taken to the forensic examination. An autopsy will reveal the cause of death.