16-Year-Old Boy Still Missing a Month After Disappearing While Playing Video Games at Friend’s Home: Reports

Two suspects who were arrested in November are facing new charges in connection with the disappearance of a 16-year-old Texas boy who vanished under suspicious circumstances in late October.

Kyler Rector, 19, Casey Jenschke, 23, and a 15-year-old girl are facing charges of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault for the October 26 disappearance of Benjamin Loera from Vanderbilt. Rector and Jenshke were originally arrested in November on unrelated charges, but Loera’s mother told the Victoria Advocate that her son was hanging out with Jenschke when he vanished.

Loera’s mother reported the teen missing on October 27, a day after he did not return from a friend’s home where he was playing video games. She claimed she was unable to reach him via phone or text message.

Jackson County police said in a statement that the incident involving Loera was “planned.” However, Chief Deputy Craig Kirkpatrick declined to tell the Advocate what led to them charging the three suspects in this case.

Kirkpatrick and a jail spokesperson said Jenshke was initially arrested in San Antonio on November 9 for the unauthorized use of a vehicle. He was ultimately extradited to jail in Jackson County, where Loera’s ongoing disappearance occurred.

Additionally, the jail spokesperson told the Advocate that Rector was arrested on November 4 for possession of a controlled substance. On November 8, he was charged with sexually assaulting a child. Rector was still in custody on November 10 when he was charged with burglarizing a vehicle; he was also charged on December 4 with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which occurred in Calhoun County.

Speaking with the Advocate, Loera’s mother said she believes the three suspects intended to harm her son. She also mentioned Loera — who is 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs 300 pounds — has a history of seizures and he may be disoriented if he suffered an episode.

The mother said, “I wish I had said ‘no’ to (him) leaving that day.”

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