Account
Jul 08, 2013
Jan 05, 2024
Jesus
Merino-Mendoza
20
3
36 inches
30 lbs
Hispanic / Latino
Male
In the summer of 2007, a heart-wrenching story began to unfold in Portland, Oregon, involving a three-year-old boy named Jesus Merino-Mendoza. On July 26, 2007, young Jesus, a Hispanic male with brown hair and brown eyes, vanished from his familiar surroundings. At the time of his disappearance, he was a small child, standing at three feet tall and weighing about 30 pounds. A notable characteristic was a faint, V-shaped birthmark on his forehead. When he was last seen, he was dressed for the summer weather in a blue jersey-style tank top with a number on the front, blue shorts, and sandals. The circumstances of his disappearance quickly pointed to a family abduction, as he was allegedly taken by his non-custodial father, Jesus Merino Leyva. The situation was immediately alarming to law enforcement and family members. A felony warrant for Jesus Merino Leyva was issued just days after the abduction, on July 31, 2007. Leyva was 37 years old at the time, described as a Hispanic male, 5'5" and 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes; his nickname was "Chu Cho." The gravity of the situation was underscored by the fact that Leyva was under a restraining order that prohibited him from having contact with either his son or the boy's mother. Concerns for the child's safety were paramount, with investigators believing Leyva posed an immediate threat. These fears were intensified by reports from relatives who described Leyva as unstable and believed he might harm himself and his son if he felt cornered by the police. He had reportedly made threats to kill himself and the child if the authorities were contacted. The investigation into Jesus's disappearance revealed a possible escape route. A cousin of Leyva's came forward, stating that he had given Leyva and little Jesus a ride to Merced, California, on the very day the boy went missing. According to the cousin, their ultimate destination was Mexico. This information suggested a premeditated plan to flee the country, making the search for the young boy an international concern. The Portland Police Bureau, in conjunction with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, has been handling the case. Despite the passage of time, the case remains unsolved, and the whereabouts of Jesus Merino-Mendoza are still unknown. The case serves as a painful reminder of the complexities and dangers involved in family abductions, highlighting the desperation and potential for tragedy that can arise from such volatile domestic situations. The ongoing search for Jesus underscores a family's enduring hope and law enforcement's commitment to resolving a case that has spanned more than a decade.
Jul 26, 2007
Portland
Oregon
Multnomah County
No
28872
Portland Police Bureau
Portland
Oregon
Multnomah County
97204
Heidi Helwig
Detective
1111 Southwest 2nd Avenue, Oregon
5038230400
Local
Law Enforcement
07-63880
2007-07-26
Portland Police Bureau
Brown
Brown
Brown
05/28/2026
