A New Caney family is still searching for a woman who disappeared nearly two weeks ago and was reportedly seen wandering while disoriented. Maria Veronica Ortiz Estrada was last seen on July 20, and search crews have now expanded efforts across a wide stretch of northeast Montgomery County.
A missing-person notice from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, published by Huntsville Happens, identifies Ortiz as a 58-year-old woman who left on foot around noon from the 19800 block of Knoll Drive. She was last seen wearing a blue Houston Texans jersey with No. 10, blue Adidas shorts and black sparkly Crocs, and authorities said she may be confused about her surroundings.
A nearby resident reportedly saw Ortiz around 6 p.m. that day but described her as disoriented and unsure which way to walk, according to Click2Houston. Her daughter, Carla Ortiz, said Maria has shown significant signs of dementia for about six years, and that her condition worsened after she lost her job and daily routine during the COVID-19 pandemic. The family also said Maria went missing last December but was found at a nearby park within 24 hours.
Search Expands Across New Caney
Search-and-rescue crews spent Sunday combing areas near Highway 99 and FM 1485 with drones and all-terrain vehicles, while family members and volunteers searched by foot and bicycle, Click2Houston reported. Carla said the family has lost sleep and skipped meals while checking possible sightings, adding, “We’re desperate to find her.”
Ortiz may use the name Maria Veronica Ortiz and responds to both Maria and Veronica. Anyone who sees her or has information about her whereabouts should contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 936-538-5900, according to the agency’s notice republished by Huntsville Happens; possible sightings should be reported to 911 so authorities can respond quickly.
