SANGER, Calif. (KMPH) -
It's been nearly two weeks, and still no sign of a missing Sanger teen.
16-year-old Sammy Mercado was last seen in a southeast Fresno field trying to steal marijuana that was growing there.
Sunday, his family held a vigil, praying for his safe return.
The tragedy brought nearly 200 people together in Sanger.
"Every day that goes by, the odds go down and down. So if anybody has any information, please come forward. His family's hurting. They need to know where their little boy is at," said Virgil Garza, a relative of Sammy.
"There has to be somebody that knows something. I hope they come with information so we know where he's at, and I still have hope that he's alive," said Phillip Mercado, Sammy's father.
The worried father says the anxiety is slowly eating away at him.
"There's no words to describe it. It's like a parasite, just eating inside you," said Mercado.
Sammy was last seen Thursday, April 12th, in the area of Annadale and Willow, in southeast Fresno.
One week later, two pickups that investigators believe were involved in the disappearance, were found abandoned in this almond orchard.
Deputies say Mercado was trying to steal marijuana from a field when he was confronted by two men with guns.
Deputies believe he may have been shot.
Mercado's friends left after shots were fired, without Sammy.
"If I was to go out there I know he wouldn't have left me like that. We wouldn't have left each other. It makes me really mad that those people just left him, it's cold, it's not right," said Jonathan Aguirre, Sammy's friend.
Family members continue to pass out flyers with Sammy's picture on it to keep his face fresh in people's minds.
The crowd also talked about opening up a boxing ring, to keep kids out of trouble.
Deputies are also looking for Ernie Chanmany. He is wanted for questioning in Sammy's disappearance.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Fresno County Sheriff's Office at (559) 488-3111.
