Lupita Murillo Reports
Mother desperately searches for son in the desert

June 27, 2007 06:15 PM MST

A mother of three waits with desperation as officials search for one of her teenage sons missing in the deserts of Southern Arizona.

The mother is from El Salvador. She's working legally in New York, on a temporary visa. She paid a Coyote to illegally smuggle her 16 and 13 year old sons into the United States.

The group was near Sells when everyone scattered on June 3, leaving the 13 year old behind.

The boy's older brother was picked-up by the Border Patrol.

Their mother is now in Arizona helping comb the desert in triple-digit heat.

In a hotel room that's been her home for two weeks, Maria Diaz burns a candle of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Next to the candle are pictures of Maria's sons. The youngest, a U.S. resident living in New York, the other two she was trying to bring into the United States.

Maria tells News 4 she struggled with the decision to bring her sons, but she just couldn't bear being without them. She says the Coyote promised her sons would be safe and they wouldn't be crossing through the desert.

The older brother Carlos, who was found by the Border Patrol, says he wasn't scared because he and his little brother Rafael held on the hope of being reunited with his parents and his youngest brother.

They crossed at Altar, Sonora. When they began their trek through the desert, they had food and water. But they quickly ran out. Carlos says he shared his water with his little brother.

When Border Patrol Agents came, the group scattered. That's when he was separated from his little brother.

He was taken to Florence and processed. His mother came from New York and he was released to her.

For two weeks they've been living in a motel, hoping and praying that Raphael will turn up.

Border Patrol agents are continuing their search for the 13 year old. However, on Saturday, Maria and her son Carlos must return to New York where her son has a scheduled court appearance.

Maria says as a mother, she knows in her heart her son is alive. She says he's crying out to her to keep looking and not to give up hope. That's why she keeps the candle of Our Lady of Guadalupe burning.
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