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Mom Reveals Son Found Missing Toddler Face-Down in Creek
Community Heartbroken After Missing Toddler Found in San Antonio Creek
What Happened: A Simple Timeline
On Sunday evening, something very sad happened in a San Antonio neighborhood. Here’s what we know, step by step:
- 7:45 PM – Two-year-old Aryana Trevino Martinez was last seen in the 4000 block of Allegheny Drive
- Around 9:00 PM – An AMBER Alert (a special emergency message for missing children) was sent out to phones and TV stations
- 9:00 PM onward – Neighbors, police, and a helicopter all joined together to search for her
- About 15 minutes into searching – A young man named Uriel Ramirez found Aryana in a creek
- 12:10 AM Monday – Doctors announced that Aryana had passed away
- 3:00 AM Monday – The AMBER Alert was canceled
Who Helped Find Aryana
Important Point
Regular neighbors made a huge difference. This wasn’t just police work—it was a whole community coming together.
- Anna Marie Ramirez and her 22-year-old son Uriel live nearby
- When they heard about the missing toddler, Anna Marie told her son: "We need to be a part of this and help"
- They thought to check a nearby creek that had lots of tall weeds and water
- Anna Marie had to stop because the weeds were too thick to walk through
- Uriel kept going – he stood on a big rock to see over the weeds
- He said he felt a "pull" to look in that exact spot
- He found Aryana lying in the water
- Without waiting, Uriel jumped into the creek (not knowing how deep it was), picked her up, and ran back to get help
- He yelled "I found her" as he ran
What the Community Did
| Group | What They Did |
|---|---|
| Neighbors from Glenoaks Park & Dreamhill Estates | Started searching as early as 9 PM |
| First responders (police, firefighters, EMTs) | Searched on foot and from a helicopter |
| Uriel Ramirez | Found Aryana in the creek and carried her to safety |
| Everyone | Performed CPR while waiting for the ambulance |
What Police Are Still Figuring Out
Important Point
The investigation is still happening. Police don’t have all the answers yet.
- Video exists showing Aryana walking alone in an alley before this happened
- It’s not clear how she got from the alley to the creek
- Police want more video from neighbors’ cameras to see if anyone was with her
- Cause of death is still being determined by the Medical Examiner
What Is an AMBER Alert? (Simple Explanation)
An AMBER Alert is like a giant neighborhood watch message that goes to:
- Your phone (as an emergency alert)
- TV stations
- Radio stations
- Highway signs
It only happens when:
- A child is missing
- Police believe the child is in serious danger
- There’s enough information to share (like what the child looks like, what they were wearing, where they were last seen)
The goal: Get as many eyes as possible looking for the child right away.
Summary
- A 2-year-old girl named Aryana went missing in San Antonio on Sunday night
- An AMBER Alert went out, and dozens of neighbors and police searched for hours
- Uriel Ramirez, a 22-year-old neighbor, found her in a water-filled creek after feeling drawn to check there
- He jumped in and carried her out, but she did not survive
- The whole community is grieving and police are still investigating how this happened
- Anna Marie Ramirez said it best: "I think we all should pray for the family. I know it’s going to be a long journey for them."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an AMBER Alert, and why did I get one on my phone?
An AMBER Alert is an emergency message sent to phones, TV, and radio when a child goes missing and might be in danger. It asks everyone nearby to help look. You got it because you were in the area where Aryana went missing.
How did Uriel Ramirez know where to look?
Uriel has lived in that neighborhood his whole life. He and his mom thought the creek was a place a small child might wander into. He stood on a rock to see over the tall weeds and spotted her.
Did the police find her, or did a neighbor?
A neighbor found her. Uriel Ramirez located Aryana in the creek about 15 minutes after he started searching. Police and firefighters arrived right after to help with CPR.
Do they know how Aryana got into the creek?
Not yet. Police have video of her walking alone in an alley earlier, but they don’t know how she got from there to the creek. They’re asking neighbors for more security camera footage.
How can I help the family or the investigation?
- If you have security cameras in the Dreamhill Estates or Glenoaks Park area from Sunday night, contact San Antonio Police
- Keep the family in your thoughts – the community is planning ways to support them
- If you ever see a missing child alert, take it seriously and look around – Uriel’s quick action gave Aryana a chance
This story is based on reporting from KSAT News in San Antonio. The investigation is ongoing.
