Agencies statewide search for missing Schertz boy

Anthony Sosa, 11, last seen Thursday morning

SCHERTZ, Texas – Agencies from across Texas scoured areas of the city Thursday looking for Anthony Sosa, 11, who ran away from his home on the 10600 block of Hillbrook Thursday morning.

"The child had left after getting into a little argument with his mother," said Schertz police Lt. John Correu.

Sosa left home in his green dinosaur pajamas and a T-shirt. He was barefoot and without a coat.

Temperatures were in the 30s Thursday morning.

Bexar County sheriff's deputies and their K-9 units assisted in the search. San Antonio police searched for Anthony using their Eagle helicopter.

"With the weather out here and the fact that he did leave with no shoes and no jacket, it's obviously complicating the search because of the time frame," Correu said. "Anybody in these conditions can only remain out here so long."

Alamo Area Search and Rescue, the Heidi Search Center, College Station Search Dog Network and Travis County Search and Rescue were also called in to use specially-trained dogs to track the boy's scent.

"I just want my son back," said a weeping Martin Sosa, Anthony's father. "If anybody's seen him, just let me know and bring him back safe. Please."

Sosa had run away before, his father said, but he had never been gone this long. In the past, Martin Sosa said his son was found at a local park.

"He's been in Crescent Bend Park. I found him there at the bird watch station," said Martin Sosa. "But we've been there. We've searched and searched and nothing's come up yet."

Thursday afternoon, the Texas Game Warden joined the search efforts using their dogs and helicopter. The San Antonio Fire Department also contributed resources.

All-terrain vehicles were also brought in to help comb the area.

Much of the area surrounding Anthony's home is covered in brush and trees.

The Red Cross also arrived at the scene to provide relief to first responders.

Friends and family gathered at the home on Hillbrook to help in the search, although officers discouraged others from joining in because the crowd began to throw off the scent dogs were tracking.

Anthony suffers from asthma and left home without his inhaler, according to his family.

"I just want you to come home," Martin Sosa said in a teary message to his son. "Daddy loves you."


About the Author:

Myra Arthur is passionate about San Antonio and sharing its stories. She graduated high school in the Alamo City and always wanted to anchor and report in her hometown. Myra anchors KSAT News at 6:00 p.m. and hosts and reports for the streaming show, KSAT Explains. She joined KSAT in 2012 after anchoring and reporting in Waco and Corpus Christi.