Missing the man

Rosie Armendarez said the disappearance of her son-in-law, Rene Escobar Sanchez, is beginning to remind her of a missing person turned tragedy that happened here in mid-June.

"The Thornhill tragedy just comes through our minds," Rosie Armendarez said. "I hope it doesn't turn out like the Thornhill tragedy."

Sgt. Paul Shepherd said Sanchez, 36, was originally reported missing at 11 p.m. Saturday from his 1919 N. Hancock Ave., home. His common-law wife, Ester Armendarez, last saw him.

Ester Armendarez said that after Sanchez went missing, they realized he'd left his wallet and money at the house.

"He doesn't have any money or identification on him," she said. "We'd just got done having a barbecue with the family, and he was sitting in the back garage just drinking a few beers. Next thing we know, he's missing."

Ester Armendarez said Sanchez even left his white Dodge 1500 pickup parked in front of the house.

Ester Armendarez said Sanchez is a typical family man who "loved mowing the grass" and "lived at Wal-Mart."

"He lived for his kids," she said. "He was all about family and do anything for his kids. I don't think he'd ever leave his kids for anything."

Rosie Armendarez said the family hasn't slept much the six days since Sanchez was reported missing.

"There are just so many things going through our mind right now," she said. "We've hardly slept since he was missing. We just stay up thinking about him."

Rosie Armendarez said she's afraid that Sanchez's good nature might have got the best of him.

"He has no enemies and is really friendly," she said. "I hope somebody didn't take advantage of how nice he is."

The mother-in-law said she hopes he just had a lapse in judgment.

"We're hoping he just comes home after going with the wrong crowd or something," she said. "We'll ask no questions on why he didn't come home for so many days. We just want him home."

Ester Armendarez said Sanchez is a night shift mechanic for Smith Services and has two children, a 3-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy.

Odessa Cpl. Sherrie Carruth said Thursday that investigators didn't have any new information on the case. 

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> Robert Clayton Thornhill Jr. was reported missing May 21. His body was found June 18 in a ditch eight miles northwest of Goldsmith.

>> Derek Elms, 20, Willie Carl Hurst, 18, Heather Mitchell, 19, and Kathleen Newbury, 20, were arrested and charged with murder in connection with Thornhill's killing. All four remained Thursday in the Ector County Detention Center on bonds of $500,000 each.

>> Cpl. Sherrie Carruth said autopsy results have not been returned from the Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office.

WANT TO HELP?

Anyone who's had contact with Rene Escobar Sanchez or might have information to his whereabouts is asked to call the Odessa Police Department, 333-3641, or Odessa CrimeStoppers at 333-8477.