Human remains discovered at the former Texas residence of Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez have been positively identified as the 6-year-old boy. The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office made the announcement on Thursday, May 15, after dental records confirmed the identity of the child.
Noel was born with physical and developmental disabilities, and law enforcement officials had been searching for him since being alerted to his disappearance in March 2023. PEOPLE previously reported that the child was last seen twice in October 2022, once when his mother, Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, gave birth to twins, and another time when he appeared “malnourished” and “unhealthy.”
The mother of seven is currently facing charges of capital murder, two counts of causing injury to a child, and one count of abandoning a child without intent to return to him. Rodriguez-Singh was arrested in August 2025 after her name was added to the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list. She had previously fled to India with her husband, Arshdeep Singh, and six other children in March 2023, just days after police conducted a welfare check at their home.
It takes an immense amount of evil to destroy innocence
Authorities had alleged that after the birth of the twins, Rodriguez-Singh referred to Noel as “possessed” and claimed he had a “demon” inside him that would hurt the other children. Relatives had expressed concerns that she was “abusive and neglectful to Noel” well before the investigation began.
When he wasn’t seen again, the extended family asked for a welfare check. During that check, Rodriguez-Singh falsely told authorities that Noel was with his biological father in Mexico. Arshdeep Singh has also been charged with flight to avoid prosecution.
The remains of missing 6-year-old Texas boy Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez were discovered this week during a search of his former Everman home, more than three years after he was last seen alive.
— 🅽🅴🆁🅳🆈 Investigates Investigators (@Nerdy_Addict) May 16, 2026
Noel was last seen in October 2022, around the time his twin sisters were born, according… pic.twitter.com/8HI7ebyurm
District Attorney Phill Sorrells addressed the case in a press statement, noting that it “has weighed heavily on our community from the beginning.” He emphasized the importance of the child, stating, “Noel was a child whose life mattered.”
“He deserved protection, care, and love. Instead, he became the victim of an unthinkable crime.” Sorrells also confirmed that it is the office’s “responsibility to seek justice for Noel and to hold Rodriguez-Singh fully accountable under the law.”
Update
— Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) May 15, 2026
Noel Rodriguez Alvarez
This is a Missing case we tracked from the beginning. (See multiple tweets on my page for a chronology of updates)
His mother was charged, but was found by a judge to be unable to stand trial due to her mental state. Her name is Cindy… https://t.co/YTrF5pPGrE pic.twitter.com/O0NDE54yLH
While the legal proceedings are ongoing, the case has hit a significant hurdle regarding the defendant’s mental state. According to WFAA, Rodriguez-Singh was ruled incompetent to stand trial in April following a psychological examination. A Tarrant County judge ordered her to be sent to a state hospital for treatment.
Despite this ruling, District Attorney Sorrells remains “confident” that she will eventually stand trial. He explained that to be considered competent, a defendant must be able to understand the charges and assist in their own defense. Referring to the psychological report, Sorrells noted, “The report further said they believe that in the foreseeable future, she will regain competency. So, she will stand trial for this.”
Every parent's worst nightmare, and still no law against bad parenting.
— Babcoq (@babcoq) May 14, 2026
The current state of Rodriguez-Singh’s mental health has been further highlighted by a series of letters she has sent from jail. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that she has submitted 12 pages of “meandering, often incoherent letters” addressed to a judge.
In these writings, she claims that officers have sexually abused her and utilized a “brain/mind reader” against her. She wrote, “Their (sic) doing really bad things to me,” and claimed, “They have on something to make my heart beat.”
Remains have been found at the home where 6 year old Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez last lived.
— Southern FFA Family (@FFAFamily) May 14, 2026
Noel disappeared in October 2022 & reported missing March 2023.
Cindy Rodriguez Singh, his mother, has been found incompetent to stand trial & is being transferred to a state facility. pic.twitter.com/wAT6Ka2Ff4
The letters also contain various health claims, including allegations that she was in hospice care for stage 4 cancer and that someone “threw feces in my food” while she was in the Tarrant County Jail. She also requested a personal recognizance bond, writing, “I’m writing because I want the consideration of a [personal recognizance] bond.”
It remains unclear if these observations are grounded in reality, as the psychologist’s report regarding her competency remains under seal. For now, Rodriguez-Singh remains in custody with her bond set at $10 million as the state works toward restoring her competency so that the capital murder case can proceed.
