Police seek information in Rocky Ford missing person case

PUEBLO, Colo. -- Police are seeking information about a man who went missing in the Rocky Ford area east of Pueblo in early November.

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, 37-year-old Jose Guadalupe Ruiz Jr. is described as a Hispanic male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighing 190 pounds.

Ruiz has multiple tattoos, described as tribal tattoos, on his shoulders. He also has tattoos spelling "Brown" and "Pride" on his forearms, and "Ruiz" on his left hand.

Since his disappearance, Jose Ruiz's family has been desperate for answers.

“We are out late at night, 2 to 3 in the morning to see if we could see him.
Just all hours of the night,” said Mary Saltzman, Ruiz's sister.

Family say Ruiz was released from Otero County Jail on Halloween, and was last seen by his father on November 3rd. Ruiz served time due to theft charges.

For Saltzman and her family, not seeing or hearing from Jose this long was out of character.

“He should have made contact with some family member by now," said Saltzman. "Either his brother, sister, dad, brother-in-laws, nephews, we would’ve seen him. He would’ve stopped by now.”

In an effort to find Jose, family say they traced his cell phone to
Manzanola, and found the phone at a friend’s house. However, they could not locate Jose.

Now, their worst fears are creeping in.

"I’m hoping and praying he is alive," said Saltzman when asked if she fears for his life. Jose could you please contact me, dad, any of us. We love you and we just want to know you are safe.”

CBI tells KRDO they are currently in the process of interviewing a number of people who may have seen Jose Ruiz after the family. Rocky Ford police are assisting CBI investigators where they can.

Anyone with information about Ruiz’s whereabouts is asked to call 303-239-4171.