The Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE), Baja California’s state attorney general’s office, is asking the public to help locate a 12-year-old boy who left his school in Maneadero without permission on April 28.
Juan Manuel Martínez Lepiz was last seen leaving the José María Morelos y Pavón school at approximately 4:40 p.m. The school sits at the corner of Publio Ruiz and Mariano Escobedo streets in the Maneadero delegation, a farming community roughly 20 kilometers south of downtown Ensenada along Highway 1.
Description and Health Concerns
Authorities describe Juan Manuel as 1.50 meters tall (about 4 feet 11 inches) with a stocky build, brown skin, dark brown hair, and dark brown eyes. He was wearing an olive green t-shirt, blue jeans, and beige Vans-style sneakers when he walked away from the school.
The FGE noted that Juan Manuel has been diagnosed with ADHD and language difficulties. These conditions may limit his ability to communicate clearly or seek help on his own, making the search more urgent.
How to Report a Sighting
Anyone with information about Juan Manuel’s whereabouts is urged to contact the FGE immediately. In Baja California, residents can reach state prosecutors through the emergency number 911 or the FGE’s direct lines in Ensenada.
Maneadero is a major agricultural hub along the Transpeninsular Highway and serves as a transit point for travelers heading south toward San Quintín and the wine country of the Valle de Guadalupe. The area sees heavy foot and vehicle traffic, which authorities hope could help generate leads.
The boy has now been missing for several days. Authorities have not indicated whether foul play is suspected or whether Juan Manuel may have left voluntarily. The case remains under active investigation by Ensenada-area prosecutors.
This story was first reported by Ensenada.net.