A Texas community is grieving after a 2-year-old girl who vanished from her San Antonio neighborhood was found dead in a nearby creek just hours after an Amber Alert was issued. The neighbor who discovered her says he felt something was guiding him directly to the child.
Aryana Trevino Martinez was reported missing Sunday evening after she was last seen around 7:45 p.m. wearing a black shirt and leopard-print pants.
Authorities quickly launched an Amber Alert, and surveillance footage appeared to show the toddler heading toward the creek near her home. Her body was found around midnight, less than 500 yards away from where she lived — about four hours after she disappeared.
Officials have not yet revealed the cause of death, and investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding how Aryana left her home.
“Something guided me straight to her”
The heartbreaking discovery was made by 22-year-old neighbor Uriel Ramirez, who joined the search immediately after hearing about the missing child.
His mother, Anna Marie Ramirez, told local media that their family felt they had to help in any way they could. Despite difficult conditions, including thick grass and challenging terrain around the creek, Uriel continued searching.
He climbed over rocks and eventually spotted Aryana in the water below. Without hesitation, he entered the creek and carried her out.
“She’s like an angel, and something led me straight to her — like a direct path,” Uriel said. “My mind just knew, ‘That’s where she is.’”
After getting out of the water, he found his mother and simply told her: “I found her.”
“I can’t even explain it,” he said.
Community left heartbroken
Neighbors are struggling to understand the tragic loss and are asking how the young girl ended up in the creek.
Resident David Alcantar said many people are searching for answers.
“The first thing I thought, like everyone else, was: how did she get out there? How does a 2-year-old get that far?” he said.
A candlelight vigil is planned in Aryana’s memory, where family members, friends, and neighbors will gather to honor the little girl and remember her life.