The Unsolved Disappearance of Joshua Davis Jr.: The Toddler Mysteriously Vanished in New Braunfels, Texas on a Freezing Night in 2011 ,
Over a decade later, his disappearance remains one of the most baffling unsolved cold cases in Texas.
Despite years of tireless efforts, including large-scale searches, detailed investigations, and numerous theories, Joshua’s location remains a mystery.
Joshua's missing person case has left his family desperate for answers and the community grappling with the unsettling reality of what really happened.
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| Joshua Davis Jr |
Who Was Joshua Davis Jr.?
Joshua Davis Jr. was a bright and cheerful toddler who brought immense joy to his family.
He was just 18 months old at the time of his disappearance, as reported by Fox7Austin News
Born into a close-knit household in New Braunfels, Texas, Joshua was the youngest child of Sabrina Benitez and Joshua Davis Sr.
He had an older brother, and the family lived together in a mobile home located in the 2600 block of Savannah Hill Circle.
This was a quiet rural area surrounded by wooded fields and a nearby school.
Joshua’s mother, Sabrina, adored him and often called him her “right-hand man.”
At the time of his disappearance, Sabrina was eight months pregnant with another child, adding to the anticipation and excitement in the household.
Joshua’s father, Joshua Davis Sr., was also a central figure in his life, and the two shared a bond that was evident to everyone around them.
Joshua’s paternal grandfather, Jerome Davis, owned the mobile home where they all lived and was constantly involved in Joshua’s life.
Joshua’s grandmother, Natalie Vargas, was another pillar of support in his life.
Although she didn’t live in the same home, she was deeply involved in Joshua’s care and often spent time with him.
Natalie recalls Joshua as a happy and outgoing child who loved to be around people.
His favorite movie was Toy Story, and he would often watch it on repeat, giggling at the antics of Woody and Buzz Lightyear.
Physically, Joshua was standing about two feet tall and weighing around 30 pounds when he disappeared.
He had black hair, brown eyes, and a distinctive dark brown birthmark on his left knee.
At the time, Joshua was just beginning to explore the world around him, learning to walk and talk.
His words were still in the sweet, garbled tones of baby talk, but his family could already see his personality shining through.
While the circumstances of his disappearance remain a mystery, Joshua’s family continues to search tirelessly, fueled by their enduring love for him.
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| Joshua Davis Jr |
The Day of the Disappearance
On February 4, 2011, the city of Texas was hit by an unusually harsh winter weather.
Temperatures dropped below 20 degrees, and a light layer of snow covered the ground in New Braunfels, transforming the area into a rare, icy scene.
Joshua Davis Jr. had spent the day with his family inside their mobile home, unaware that this would be the last day they would see him.
Later that evening, Joshua’s father, Joshua Davis Sr., his grandfather, Jerome Davis, and several other friends gathered at the home.
They had all gathered in the living room to watch a basketball game on TV.
Meanwhile, Sabrina and Joshua stayed in her bedroom to relax and watch Joshua’s favorite movie, Toy Story.
At one point, Joshua wandered out of the bedroom and into the living room, where the adults were watching the game.
At 7:45 p.m., Sabrina realized that Joshua hadn’t returned to her bedroom after he left 10 minutes earlier.
She immediately checked the living room, where the adults were watching the game, but Joshua wasn’t there.
She asked if anyone had seen him, but no one had noticed him leaving the room.
Out of panic, Sabrina and the others started searching the house.
They checked every room, every corner, and even places where a toddler couldn’t possibly fit, but Joshua was nowhere to be found.
Despite the freezing temperatures and icy conditions, they searched the yard and the surrounding area outside, but Joshua was nowhere in sight.
The mobile home was situated in a wooded area with no streetlights, making the search even more challenging in the dark.
At approximately 8:35 p.m., Joshua’s grandfather, Jerome Davis, called 911 to report the toddler missing.
In the 911 call, Jerome explained that the family had been searching for about 20 minutes but had found no trace of the child.
As the night wore on, the reality of Joshua’s disappearance began to sink in, leaving the family desperate for answers.
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| Joshua Davis Jr's family |
The Search and Investigation
Shortly after Joshua Davis Jr. was reported missing on the evening of February 4, 2011, the New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) launched an immediate and extensive search effort.
They deployed all available resources to locate the 18-month-old toddler.
The initial search focused on the area surrounding the mobile home on Savannah Hill Circle, where Joshua was last seen.
Volunteers from the community joined the search, combing through the wooded fields, nearby streets, and even a nearby school grounds visible from the property.
The NBPD coordinated with multiple agencies, including the Texas Rangers, the FBI, and the Heidi Search Center, a nonprofit organization specializing in missing persons cases.
Search teams utilized canine units, helicopters, and horseback search teams to cover the rugged terrain.
Divers were also brought in to search nearby bodies of water, including a lake located not far from the home, but no trace of Joshua was found.
In the days following Joshua’s disappearance, criminal investigators turned their attention to the individuals who were inside the home that night.
Given the freezing temperatures—below 20 degrees—and the icy conditions, authorities were concerned about the possibility of Joshua wandering outside without proper clothing or shoes.
However, his family insisted it was possible, stating that Joshua was capable of turning a door handle and wandering outside on his own.
This raised suspicions about their involvement or knowledge of what happened to Joshua, according to police reports.
The Family Points Accusing Fingers at Aaron"
Aaron, a childhood friend of Joshua Davis Jr.’s father, Joshua Davis Sr., was one of the adults present in the home on the night of the toddler’s disappearance.
Aaron was described as a frequent visitor to the family’s mobile home and was known to spend time with Joshua’s father.
They often bonded over shared interests like hunting, and he occasionally brought deer meat to the household.
However, Joshua's family believes Aaron knows more than he’s saying about the toddler’s disappearance.
According to Joshua’s mother, Sabrina, Aaron was the only person who left the house at one point during the evening.
He claimed to have gone outside through the back door to use the restroom, even though there were two bathrooms inside the home and the temperatures outside were freezing.
Aaron also stated that Joshua had followed him outside, but he brought the toddler back inside before leaving through the front door.
However, his story seemed suspicious to family members.
Adding to the suspicion, Aaron refused to take a polygraph test and hired an attorney immediately after he was invited for questioning by police.
His decision to lawyer up, while legally within his rights, was seen by the family as a red flag.
Joshua’s grandmother, Natalie Vargas, has publicly expressed her belief that Aaron knows more than he has shared, pointing to his evasive behavior.
According to Sabrina, after Joshua went missing, they went to Aaron’s neighborhood to put up posters of the missing boy.
She claims that Aaron’s grandmother confronted them, telling them to leave the area or she would report them for harassment.
Sabrina also said that when they returned to the street later, all the missing posters they had put up were torn down.
However, she noticed that flyers for missing cats and dogs were still up, untouched.
Sabrina said she couldn’t understand why Joshua’s missing posters seemed to upset someone so much while the flyers for missing cats and dogs didn’t seem to bother them at all.
The family also pointed to a neighbor’s story as another reason to question Aaron’s version of what happened that night.
A 15-year-old neighbor claimed to have seen Aaron outside the home that night with an unidentified man, drinking beer.
Surprisingly, no one in the house that night knew about this detail except the neighbour who allegedly saw him.
This discrepancy further fueled the family’s belief that Aaron may have played a role in Joshua’s disappearance.
However, the New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) has a different perspective on Aaron’s involvement.
They stated that based on his statements—and those of others in the house—there’s no evidence to suggest Aaron abducted Joshua.
The NBPD confirmed that Aaron was cooperative with investigators both before and after hiring an attorney, and they have no evidence linking him directly to the toddler’s disappearance.
The NBPD has also emphasized that Aaron was not in the house at the time Joshua went missing, based on statements from him and other family members.
Additionally, they noted that hiring an attorney during questioning was his legal right.
While they have not ruled anyone out entirely, they believe the key to solving the case lies with those who were inside the home during the critical period when Joshua vanished.
Despite the police’s stance, Joshua’s family remains convinced that Aaron holds crucial information about what happened that night.
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| Joshua Davis Jr's parents. |
The Police Believe the Family Might Be Hiding Something
From the early stages of the investigation into Joshua Davis Jr.’s disappearance, the New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) has expressed concerns that the family may not be fully truthful about the events of that night.
According to investigators, several key details are being withheld or misrepresented, hindering their ability to solve the case.
One of the most significant red flags for the police was the delay in reporting Joshua missing.
While the family initially claimed they called 911 immediately after realizing Joshua was gone, investigators determined that approximately 45 minutes to an hour had passed between the time Joshua was last seen and the 911 call.
During this time, the police believed the family held a meeting and cleaned up illegal drugs that were present in the home.
This delay, coupled with the disposal of evidence, raised suspicions about the family’s involvement or knowledge of what happened to Joshua.
Another point of contention was the family’s shifting narratives.
Initially, they suggested that Joshua might have wandered outside on his own despite the freezing temperatures and his lack of proper clothing.
However, investigators later concluded that Joshua, at 18 months old, was not physically capable of opening doors or navigating the icy terrain alone.
This inconsistency led the police to question the family’s credibility.
Additionally, the NBPD noted that some family members failed polygraph tests, further fueling doubts about their honesty.
According to the spokesman of the local police department who spoke to The Vanished Podcast on this case, Joshua’s father and grandfather both failed polygraph examinations, while his mother, Sabrina, passed hers.
These results deepened the investigators’ belief that not everyone in the home was being fully transparent.
The police also claimed that the family repeatedly sent them on wild goose chases by promoting theories they knew to be untrue, such as the possibility of a stranger abduction or trafficking.
According to police reports, these distractions wasted valuable time and resources that could have been used to focus on more credible leads.
Furthermore, the NBPD has accused the family of spreading misinformation to the media and the public, which has complicated their efforts to solve the case.
The police have emphasized that they believe the key to solving Joshua’s disappearance lies with those who were in the home that night.
While the NBPD has not formally named any suspects, they say that everyone in the house that night was a person of interest.
There were 10 people who were in the home that night, including 7 adults and 3 toddlers, including Joshua.
They suspect that at least one, and possibly more, adults in the house know what happened to Joshua but have chosen not to come forward.
NBPD has made it clear that the family’s lack of transparency and inconsistent statements have significantly hindered the investigation.
Until someone decides to tell the truth, the case remains shrouded in mystery, leaving Joshua’s fate unresolved.
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| Joshua Davis Jr age progression photo |
Possible Theories
Over the years, many theories have emerged about what could have happened to Joshua Davis Jr. on that freezing February night in 2011.
While none have been confirmed, investigators and the public have considered a range of possibilities to explain the toddler’s disappearance.
1. Accidental Harm and Cover-Up
One of the most widely discussed theories by the local police department is that Joshua may have been accidentally injured or killed inside the home.
Supporters of this theory suggest that after Joshua was injured or killed, the adults in the house panicked and disposed of his body to hide the incident, fearing legal consequences.
This theory is bolstered by the fact that the family reportedly waited for approximately 45 minutes to an hour before the 911 call.
During this time, the family reportedly cleaned up illegal drugs and held a meeting before making the call to report Joshua’s disappearance.
The police have also noted inconsistencies in the family’s statements, which could point to an attempt to conceal the truth.
According to the police, one or more individuals present that night know what happened but have chosen not to come forward.
2. Abduction by an Outsider
Another theory is that Joshua was abducted by someone outside the home.
The family initially suggested this possibility, but investigators have found no evidence to support this theory.
Additionally, the police have pointed out that it’s highly unlikely that a kidnapper would have been wandering around in such freezing temperatures, searching for a toddler to abduct.
3. Involvement of Someone in the Home
Joshua’s family believes that someone inside the home may have been involved in his disappearance.
The family has specifically pointed to Aaron, a family friend, as a potential suspect due to his refusal to take a polygraph test.
However, the police have stated that there is no concrete evidence linking Aaron to Joshua’s disappearance.
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| Joshua Davis Jr age progression photo |
4. Trafficking or Illegal Adoption
Given New Braunfels’s proximity to the Mexican border, some have speculated that Joshua could have been trafficked or sold into illegal adoption.
This theory suggests that someone may have taken Joshua with the intention of exploiting him for financial gain.
While this is a chilling possibility, investigators have found no evidence to support it, such as sightings or connections to trafficking networks.
5. Wandering Off and Succumbing to the Elements
Initially, the family and investigators considered the possibility that Joshua wandered outside on his own despite the freezing temperatures and his lack of proper clothing.
However, this theory was later dismissed by criminal investigators.
They determined that Joshua, at 18 months old, was not physically capable of opening doors or navigating the icy terrain alone.
Additionally, extensive searches of the surrounding area yielded no trace of the toddler.
6. Involvement of a Registered Sex Offender
At one point, the family raised concerns about a registered sex offender who lived on the same street.
They speculated that this individual might have been involved in Joshua’s disappearance.
However, investigators quickly ruled out this theory after determining that the sex offender had no connection to the case.
Each of these theories has been examined by investigators, but none has provided a definitive explanation for Joshua’s disappearance.
The lack of concrete physical evidence, like a body, has made it difficult to determine what truly happened that night.
Until new information comes to light, Joshua’s fate remains a heartbreaking mystery.
Ongoing Efforts
Despite the years that have passed since Joshua Davis Jr.’s disappearance, efforts to find him and bring closure to his family have not ceased.
Both law enforcement and Joshua’s family continue to work tirelessly, hoping that new information or advancements in technology might finally shed light on what happened to the toddler.
The New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) has maintained that Joshua’s case remains open and active.
The NBPD has also emphasized that they continue to follow up on tips and leads from the public, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.
In 2021, on the 10th anniversary of Joshua’s disappearance, the NBPD announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or indictment in the case.
This reward, offered through Comal County Crime Stoppers, is intended to encourage anyone with knowledge of the events surrounding Joshua’s disappearance to come forward.
The department has also utilized social media and public appeals to keep Joshua’s story in the spotlight, urging anyone with information to contact them directly or submit anonymous tips.
Joshua’s family, particularly his grandmother, Natalie Vargas, has been relentless in keeping his case alive.
Natalie maintains a dedicated Facebook page titled “Let’s Find Joshua Davis,” where she shares updates, photos, and appeals for information.
The page serves as a platform to keep the public engaged and to remind people that Joshua’s disappearance remains unresolved.
The family has also participated in numerous media interviews to keep Joshua’s story in the public eye.
They have collaborated with organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which has released age-progressed images of what Joshua might look like as he grows older.
These images are shared widely in hopes that someone might recognize him.
Joshua’s case has been featured on various true-crime podcasts, television programs, and news outlets, helping to reach a broader audience.
These platforms have not only raised awareness but also encouraged people to come forward with potential leads.
The family has expressed gratitude for the media’s role in keeping Joshua’s story alive, as they believe public attention is crucial to solving the case.
The NBPD and Joshua’s family continue to urge anyone with information—no matter how small or seemingly irrelevant—to come forward.
Tips can be submitted anonymously through Comal County Crime Stoppers at (830) 620-TIPS (8477) or directly to the New Braunfels Police Department at (830) 221-4100.
While the years have passed without answers, the determination to find Joshua has not wavered.
For his family and those involved in the investigation, the search continues, fueled by the belief that one day, the truth will come to light
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