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Courtesy or Maria Ruiz. Raymond Ruiz, foreground, is pictured here with his family. -
Courtesy or Maria Ruiz. Raymond Ruiz is pictured here. -
Courtesy or Maria Ruiz. Raymond Ruiz's orange 1996 Ford F-150 is still missing, too.
It’s been one month since a 41-year-old Satsuma man and his orange Ford F-150 were last seen.
The family of Raymond Ruiz is asking anyone who has information to come forward.
“I just want him home,” said Gloria Gonzalez, Ruiz’s mother.
People can contact Gonzalez at 386-972-3054 or his sister, Maria Ruiz, at 386-287-5273.
Raymond Ruiz’s girlfriend last saw him on the night of Feb. 18 and family reported him missing three days later, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and his family. He has brown eyes, brown hair, a beard and weighs 160 pounds, according to the law enforcement agency.
Raymond Ruiz’s family said on the night of Feb. 18 he left in his truck.
Since then, his family has not heard anything from him or about where he could be. Maria Ruiz said her brother lived in Putnam County all his life and was a family-oriented man. He usually calls every two to three days, Gonzalez added.
She and Maria Ruiz live toward Interlachen and have driven from there to Crescent City, where he sometimes hangs out. Maria Ruiz said she has driven at all hours of the morning just to see if she can spot his car.
Her brother drives a 1996 Ford F-150 that is bright orange, she added.
Raymond has had mental health troubles in the past, his family said, but has been seeking counseling. His mother said he has had suicidal tendencies in the past but does not believe this is the case anymore.
“For the past couple of years, he’s been doing very good,” Maria Ruiz said. “He’s been more family-oriented and stuff like that … so, that’s what threw me off.”
His sister said Raymond wouldn’t miss her birthday, which is Saturday. She also has been diagnosed with cervical cancer for a second time, after having it and recovering five years ago. Maria Ruiz said she starts treatment in Palatka on April 22, another milestone Raymond would want to be here to be with her.
Not only that, but Maria Ruiz’s son starts boot camp next month, and Gonzalez said her son loved all of his nephews as if they were his own children, meaning he wanted to be here.
“It’s been driving me crazy,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t know if my son’s eating.”
People can also contact the sheriff’s office with information at 386-329-0800 or call Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-888-277-8477.