Concerned family searching for missing 18-year-old autistic man

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Relatives of Jonathan Torres, an 18-year-old autistic man from Texas, say he loved the idea and the allure of Miami.

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Now they believe he is missing somewhere in the city, or nearby.

Miami Beach Police have issued a missing persons advisory for Torres, who was believed to have stayed at a hotel near Harding Avenue and 73rd Street last week.

“He’s absolutely enamored with Miami,” said grandmother Michelle Lowe-Christensen. “As an autistic person, he becomes very fixated.”

Lowe-Christensen is posting videos that have gone viral on TikTok about her missing grandson. She is now in South Florida to look for him.

She told Local 10 News that Torres left his job at a car wash early last week and booked a last-minute flight to Miami, after a layover in Denver.

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When Torres did not arrive home where he lives with his father in Austin, and never answered phone calls, the family began tracking his phone. They said they also have access to his iMessages and his bank account.

The 18-year-old is high-functioning but trusting, the family said.

“He does not see fear. He sees all people as friendly,” Lowe-Christensen said.

They believe he went to Dadeland Mall on Friday and said bank records show he bought clothing.

Later in the evening, his phone pinged in the Brickell area, then in Downtown Miami Saturday morning, Lowe-Christensen said.

The tracking apps then went dark.

Miami Beach police are asking anyone in the community who might recognize Torres to call (305) 673-7900.

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