Ramiro Avila Jr., a 32‑year‑old Hispanic transgender individual, was reported missing from Brownsville, Texas after last being seen in the early morning hours of May 13, 2017 in the downtown area near the 1200 block of East Washington Street. That night, at approximately 2:40 a.m., he was dropped off by his sister and never returned home. From that moment on, no confirmed sightings, phone activity, or contact with family occurred.
At the time of his disappearance, Avila was described as 5’8″ to 6’0″ tall, weighing between 200 and 220 lb, with brown hair and brown eyes. He identified as either female or gender-fluid and commonly used the name Kimberly. The clothing he wore the night he disappeared included a black wig, a black short-sleeved dressy blouse, a black skirt, black fishnet stockings, stiletto heels, and gray contact lenses.
Avila had worked for years as a sex worker in downtown Brownsville; those close to them noted that despite the risks of that profession, they consistently returned home at the end of each night. When Avila failed to do so on that May night and their phone fell silent, alarm quickly mounted and a missing report was filed with the Brownsville Police Department.
The case is entered in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System under case number MP39128 and classified as an endangered missing person report. Investigators with the Brownsville Police continue to treat the case as active, although no conclusive evidence has emerged to suggest either foul play or accidental disappearance.
In 2019, during a two‑year anniversary vigil for Kimberly, Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz reportedly stated he had “just interviewed a suspect who may have been responsible” for Avila’s death—but he did not provide follow‑up details or apologies for the impact that remark had on the family. Efforts to raise public awareness continued, with a combined reward of $10,000 offered by local organizations and law enforcement for any credible information.
Despite the efforts of family, investigators, and an LGBTQ+ task force established in Brownsville in 2019 to address violence and discrimination against transgender and gender-fluid individuals, Avila’s whereabouts remain unknown over seven years later. A lingering call from 2019 by an unknown individual claiming to have information ended abruptly without disclosure, and no substantial leads have surfaced since.
Avila’s family continues to hold vigils, raise awareness on social media, and urge the public for any tip or small detail that could help shed light on their loved one's fate. The search remains open, with hopes still alive for resolution and closure.Last Seen: May 13, 2017
