Left: Joseph, circa 2004;
Right: Age-progression to age 14 (circa 2008)
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: April 18, 2004 from Tinley Park, Illinois Classification: Family Abduction Date of Birth: June 22, 1994 Age: 9 years old Height and Weight: 3'6, 76 pounds Distinguishing Characteristics: Hispanic male. Black hair, brown eyes. Joseph's nickname is Joe.
Details of Disappearance
Joseph and his brother Angelo were last seen on April 18, 2004 in Tinley Park, Illinois. They were abducted by their non-custodial mother, Maria Elena Vilchis-Guerrero. A photograph and information for Vilchis-Guerrero are posted below this case summary. A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warrant for kidnapping was issued for her on May 13, 2004.Vilchis-Guerrero and her husband, Angelo and Joseph's father Russ Hudek, had a troubled relationship and Vilchis-Guerrero twice took the children and left, once to California and once to her native Mexico. Both times Russ convinced her to return with them. After Vilchis-Guerrero left him a third time and moved in with her brother in Beecher, Illinois, Russ was granted custody of Joseph and Angelo and Vilchis-Guerrero was allowed weekend visitation. She abducted them again afterwards and they have not been seen since.
The Hudek children and their mother are believed to be in Mexico. Angelo and Joseph's cases remain unsolved.
Maria Elena Vilchis-Guerrero
Above: Maria Elena Vilchis-Guerrero
Date of Birth: November 1, 1964
Age: 39 years old
Height and Weight: 5'4, 130 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Hispanic female. Black hair, brown eyes. Vilchis-Guerrero may use the last name Hudek. She has a birthmark on her right cheek. She was born in Mexico.
Investigating Agency
Source Information
Updated 4 times since October 12, 2004.
Last updated October 21, 2007; age-progression updated.
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Tinley Park Police Department
708-532-9111
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The Daily Southtown