The Information of Case
Kimberly Avila, 32, was last seen in Brownsville, Texas on May 13, 2017. She vanished after her sister dropped her off on East Washington Street.
Background
Kimberly Avila, born Ramiro Avila Jr., was a transgender woman. She was described as a cheerful person who was pleasant to everyone.
Avila was known to frequent bars in Brownsville’s downtown area as a sex worker at the time of her disappearance, but she always returned home at the end of the night.
Details of Disappearance
Avila was dropped off by her sister at 2:40 a.m. on May 13, 2017 in the 1200 block of East Washington Street in Brownsville, Texas.
Avila never returned home and has yet to be seen or heard from.
When her family was unable to contact her, they filed a missing person’s report with the Brownsville Police Department.
Investigation
Avila’s family believes that as a transgender woman and sex worker, she was more vulnerable to violence.
The city of Brownsville established the LGBTQ+ Task Force in 2019 to address concerns about increased discrimination and harassment affecting Brownsville’s LGBTQ community, including Avila’s disappearance.
During Kimberly’s two-year anniversary prayer vigil in 2019, Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz took the podium and announced that he had “just interviewed a suspect who may have been responsible for her death.” He walked away without answering any further questions, according to Kimberly’s family. He has yet to provide an explanation for why he made that remark.
Exact Location
In the case of Kimberly Avila’s disappearance, police discovered no evidence, means, or motive for foul play. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Kimberly’s capture.
Kimberly Avila’s disappearance remains unsolved, and her case is currently classified as missing. Her case is still unsolved.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information about Kimberly Avila’s disappearance, please contact Brownsville Police at (956) 548-7000, the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office at (956) 383-8114, or Brownsville Crime Stoppers at (956) 546 TIPS (8477).