Jhonatan Peralta Mendez Missing Person Case

Jun 20, 2022

Jan 12, 2024

Jhonatan

Peralta Mendez

31

27

65 inches

66 inches

175 lbs

Hispanic / Latino

Male

Jhonatan Peralta Mendez, a 27-year-old man, disappeared on June 14, 2022, in the challenging terrain of Terrell County, Texas. A native of Apaseo el Alto, Mexico, he was undertaking the arduous journey to the United States with the hope of creating a better life for his family. Jhonatan is described as a Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes, standing between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighing approximately 175 pounds. He is heavily tattooed with the names of his loved ones—MENDEZ, FERNANDA, SOFIA, MARTHA, PACHIS, WENDY, PERALTA, JHONATAN, OSCAR, and MERCEDES—as well as religious imagery and other distinctive designs on his arms, chest, neck, and feet. At the time of his disappearance, he was believed to have been wearing a black shirt, sand-colored pants that were cut off and had green paint on them, and sand-colored military-style boots. He also had with him a gray long-sleeved shirt, black pants, and a camouflage sweater. The journey that led to Jhonatan's disappearance began with a group that included his father-in-law. His wife, Wendy Serrano Rico, shared that this was not his first attempt to reach the U.S.; he had been deported in May 2022 after a three-month detention. Undeterred, he set out again in early June. The group experienced delays, waiting for more people to join them and for what they hoped would be a safer time to cross. His last communication with his wife was a message sent on Saturday, June 11, 2022. The circumstances of his disappearance are heartbreaking. According to his wife's account, Jhonatan was struggling physically and, due to health issues, could no longer keep up with the group in the desert. He made the difficult decision to stop and remain behind, allowing the others to continue their journey. This decision, made in the unforgiving environment of the Texas desert, marks the last known information about his location. His family, left with profound uncertainty, has been desperately seeking help from immigration authorities and search parties to find him. The case of Jhonatan Peralta Mendez is a poignant example of the human stories behind immigration, highlighting the immense risks individuals undertake for their families and the profound loss experienced by those they leave behind. The overview of this case is one of a hopeful journey that turned into a desperate situation, leaving a family searching for answers about the fate of a loved one who vanished in the vast and desolate landscape.

Jun 14, 2022

Terrell

Texas

Terrell County

Unknown

116716

Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

Edinburg

Texas

Hidalgo County

78541

Glen Mendoza

Director Texas Transnational Intelligence Center

711 El Cibolo Road, Texas

9563838114

County

Law Enforcement

https://www.hidalgocounty.us/209/Sheriff

22-29558

2022-06-22

Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office

na

Black

Brown

Brown

09/19/2026