TX Paresh Patel, 36, Austin, venue & club owner / father, 25 Sept 2000 *POI arrested 12 years later for money laundering*

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Details of Disappearance​

Patel was the co-owner of the Austin, Texas nightclubs Azucar, Melagio and a music venue on Sixth Street in 2000.

He was last seen by one of his business associates when he was en route to a meeting at a club in the Warehouse District of downtown Austin on September 25, 2000. His vehicle was seen parked along 4th Street and Lavaca that evening.

Patel never arrived at his destination and also failed to pick up his children that evening. He has never been heard from again. He was reportedly carrying $15,000 in cash at the time of his disappearance.

His white Lexus SUV was discovered parked along Fourth and Lavaca streets in east Austin on the evening of September 26, one day after his disappearance. There was no sign of him at the scene. A photo of the car is posted with this case summary.

Patel's music venue on Sixth Street celebrated its grand opening the weekend prior to his disappearance. He was in the middle of a custody battle over his two sons at the time of his disappearance, and had also fathered a daughter by another woman. Patel refused to pay child support for the girl.

A month before his disappearance, the family court had ordered him to pay $20,000 in back support, plus fines.

In 2012, Patel's former business partners, brothers Hussein Ali "Mike" Yassine and Hadi Ali Yassine, were convicted of unrelated charges of money laundering and drug trafficking. The Yassine brothers used several downtown Austin businesses, including nightclubs, to launder over $200,000 cash they'd gotten through cocaine sales. In 2013, Mike was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Hadi to five years. Mike is considered a person of interest in Patel's disappearance, but has never been charged in connection with it.

In 2004, a former member of the prison gang Texas Syndicate testified Patel had been murdered by members of the gang and buried on the outskirts of the city. This information has not been confirmed, but foul play is suspected in Patel's case and he is believed to be deceased. He is described as a devoted parent and an aggressive entrepreneur.

Investigating Agency​

• Austin Police Department
• 512-974-5000
• 512-974-5172

Source Information​

• Texas Department of Public Safety
• The Austin Chronicle
• KXAN-TV 36
• City of Austin
• The Austin American-Statesman
• India Abroad
• United States Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas

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