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Diaz family says recent vandalism against them, has reignited a fire to get answers

December 7 marks another year gone since Pauline Diaz was last seen in an H-E-B parking lot on the southeast side.

SAN ANTONIO — December 7 marks 13 years since Pauline Diaz disappeared from outside a southeast-side H-E-B, and though her family hasn't stopped looking for answers since, recent acts of vandalism have reignited their drive.

Earlier this week, Diaz's family says, someone decided to target one of their missing person banners, stopping to tear it off the tailgate of their parked truck. 

"Why would they do that? Are they connected to my mom's case?" asked Juanita Diaz, Pauline's daughter

The family says this recent vandalism has only affirmed their pursuit of closure. 

Credit: KENS
All that remains of a missing person banner after Pauline Diaz's family said it was torn from their tailgate.

The day before the vandalism, Paula Martinez and Juanita Diaz, Pauline's daughters, participated in a podcast about their mother's case, centered on when she was last seen Dec. 7, 2010, in an H-E-B parking lot off Southeast Military and Goliad. 

"She just got into her truck, she drove off, never to be seen again," Martinez said. "She vanished in broad daylight." 

Diaz's truck was found abandoned in Wilson County. The family says she was in the process of filing for divorce when she disappeared; her estranged husband Pedro Ruiz has been named a person of interest, but no arrest has been made.  

Martinez recalls the desperation that set in 13 years ago.

"It's torture," she said. "Look, the first few days, we couldn't believe that it had really happened.  It was so traumatic." 

In 2018 authorities searched a property owned by Diaz and Ruiz, but nothing was found.

"It's time for a breakthrough," Martinez said. "If you know something, just be brave enough to do the right thing. It takes courage."

Credit: KENS
Pauline Diaz was last seen leaving the parking lot of a southeast-side H-E-B on Dec. 7, 2010.

Martinez says some have told the family to give up, that she's not coming back.

"Choosing to give up is a lot easier than to stay in the fight, but we choose to continue fighting, because we love her," says Martinez

Paula and Juanita say they will continue their fight. 

"I'm not going to stop (telling) my mom's story until we get her back," Diaz added. 

The family is offering a reward of $25,000.  If you know anything about the case, your urged to call the Bexar County Sheriff's Office at (210) 335-6000. 

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