TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)- Saturday will make 1 year since Emma Gutierrez saw her 16-year-old son Ivan Aguilar. The teen left the family's home in the middle of the night, sending text messages to friends before hand telling them he was leaving.
Ivan's dad now blames himself for being too tough on Ivan and making him feel unloved.
Thursday, Ivan's mother sat down with the media to let her son know that he is missed very much and that the family is incomplete without him.
"Things get confusing sometimes because you think being strict and hard on them is the right thing. Now I feel that maybe it wasn't. Maybe he thought that we didn't love him. For us, since he's left there's no life. There's days where I doesn't even know how I'm living," said Gutierrez.
Gutierrez says her fondest memory of Ivan is his generosity and sweet demeanor. She recalled his childhood, saying ever since he was young Ivan wanted to build a home for the homeless.
Authorities say they have followed-up every lead given. The reward for any information concerning Ivan's disappearance has also been increased.
