Rene was last seen at his family's residence in Reno, Nevada on November 28, 1994. He has never been heard from again.

Rene's mother, Ana Isabel Romero, and her boyfriend, Alvaro Mejia Ortiz (sometimes spelled "Mejia-Ortiz"), were charged with child abuse and Rene's murder in 1998. They blamed each other for Rene's death. Each said the other killed Rene and they worked together to dispose of the child's remains. Ana pleaded guilty to her son's murder. Ortiz pleaded not guilty but was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He could have gotten the death penalty.

Investigators say Ortiz and Ana abused Rene and his two younger brothers and Rene died from it. The couple moved to Los Angeles, California immediately after Rene's presumed death and it wasn't until they were investigated for the reported abuse of Ana's other children that police realized Rene was missing. Rene's brother, who was three years old in 1994, testified that Ortiz gave Rene some juice and the child collapsed and died shortly afterward.

Police believe Rene's body was dumped in a remote area, possibly outside the state of Nevada. His remains have never been found.