TX TX - Ava Grace Baldwin, 5, San Antonio, 17 Sept 2015

[CastlesBurning]

• Missing Since: 09/17/2015
• Missing From: San Antonio, Texas
• Classification: Family Abduction
• Sex: Female
• Race: White
• Date of Birth: 04/16/2009 (10)
• Age: 5 years old
• Height and Weight: 4'0, 60 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Blonde hair, hazel eyes. Ava may have a tooth missing in the top right side of her mouth.

Details of Disappearance
Ava was last seen in San Antonio, Texas on September 17, 2015. She may be in the company of her non-custodial mother, Kathryn Ann Baldwin, who has a felony warrant out for her for interfering with child custody.

Photos of Kathryn are posted with this case summary. Her date of birth is January 3, 1975; she was 40 years old in 2015. She's described as Caucasian, 5'2 and 105 to 120 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes. She is right-handed and has a large tattoo of a rose on her abdomen and hip area. Her natural hair color is light brown. Her nickname is Katie and she may use the last name Moore.

Kathryn has a history of alcohol and prescription drug abuse. suffers from mental illness and is supposed to take medication, but there's been no record of her refilling her prescriptions since 2015. She and Ava may move frequently and may be staying in women's shelters and/or homeless shelters. Kathryn may tell people she is being stalked.

Ava's mother and father, David Hopper, had joint custody of her. After Hopper requested full custody, Kathryn disappeared with her. Kathryn's vehicle, a silver 2014 Ford Escape with the Illinois license plate number Q29-2793, was found abandoned in a parking lot on Whitby Road in San antonio in April 2016, seven months after the pair disappeared.

Kathryn's family stated they haven't seen or heard from her or Ava since 2015 and they believe they are dead, but Hopper thinks they are alive and in hiding, possibly being helped by friends or family. Kathryn has family in Texas, Oklahoma, California, Florida and Illinois, and friends in several parts of the country as well.

Ava's disappearance remains unsolved. She was involved in cheerleading, soccer, gymnastics, and tumbling prior to her disappearance.
Investigating Agency

• San Antonio Police Department 210-207-7660

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Ava Grace Baldwin – The Charley Project

Father continues searching for missing daughter after three years

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A new Investigation Discovery true crime television special will showcase a missing San Antonio child, five years after her disappearance.

In the hour-long show titled "In Pursuit: The Missing," host Callahan Walsh will speak to law enforcement, family and witnesses who will shed light on the disappearance of Ava Baldwin, who was 5-years-old when she went missing from her home Sept. 17, 2015.

Police believe the child's mother, Kathryn Baldwin, abducted Ava before a custody hearing in which the girl's father was going to ask for full custody. At the time, Kathryn Baldwin shared custody of Ava.

Kathryn is supposed to be on medication, but there's been no evidence of her refilling her prescriptions since disappearing.

In April 2016, seven months after they were reported missing, Kathryn Baldwin's silver 2014 Ford Escape was found abandoned in a parking lot on Whitby Road in San Antonio.

If Ava is alive, she would be 11 years old today.
San Antonio missing child case featured in new true crime TV show

 

[Pennysmom1]

Aril 29, 2021

Seven years later, father searches for daughter who may be in the Quad Cities

Ava Baldwin was 5 years old and living in San Antonio when police say her mother, Kate Baldwin, took off with her. Police say they were last seen in September of 2015. Baldwin’s car was found…

www.ourquadcities.com

May 25, 2021

Ava Grace Baldwin - Missing Persons Center - Live Site

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missingpersonscenter.org

Ava Grace Baldwin – The Charley Project

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[Pennysmom1]

More photos of Ava

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[Pennysmom1]

Photos of Kathryn "Katie" Baldwin

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[imstilla.grandma]

Ava Grace Baldwin, now 14, vanished when she was six years old, and David Hopper believes his 'perfect little girl' may not even know she is classed as a missing person.

Hopper, who lived in Oklahoma, got the call from his daughter's school in September 2015 saying that Ava hadn't been in class for 21 days, and they asked if he had any idea where the child may be.

At the time Ava was living with her mother, David's ex wife Kathryn Baldwin, in San Antonio, Texas.

Police believe the mother took Ava after finding out that their home address led to an empty plot of land.

Father of girl, now 14, who vanished claims mother is hiding her

The father of girl who vanished from elementary school seven years ago has claimed that her mother - who he was married to for 34 days - is hiding the girl.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[TwinkieDefense]

Oct 4, 2023 article

LIVE: Father believes daughter hidden by her mother

Hopper believes Ava is alive and may not even realize he is looking for her.

www.newsnationnow.com

[…]

Ava would be 14 now and Hopper has been awarded full custody. But he has a theory that Kathryn’s family may be hiding the pair. However, there is no proof and police have had no new leads when it comes to locating Ava or her mother.

NewsNation spoke with Kathryn’s other daughter, now an adult, who was raised by an adoptive family. She was afraid to appear on camera but told NewsNation she fears Kathryn and Ava were taken. She said her mother had a very traumatic life and often trusted the wrong men.

[…]

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Ava and her mother, Kathryn Baldwin, lived in San Antonio, Texas while Hopper lived in central Oklahoma, a seven-hour drive away. Ava was born to the couple after a 34-day marriage.

When the school contacted him, Hopper called the San Antonio police to report 6-year-old Ava missing. What police found surprised them.

“When we sent the police out to the location of the last address we had, it turned out to be an empty lot. And that’s when we figured there’s something going on here,” Hopper said.

LIVE: Father believes daughter hidden by her mother

Hopper believes Ava is alive and may not even realize he is looking for her.

www.newsnationnow.com

 

[arielilane]

Missing: Ava Grace Baldwin.

Ava was 6 when she was reported missing in 2015.

This is what she may look like now at age 14. Her father believes she is alive and that his ex-wife may be hiding her.

If you see Ava, contact the San Antonio, TX police department at (210) 207-7781

https://twitter.com/x/status/1710255964325048411

 

[tarabull]

Any news?

 

[mlhenn]

Ava Grace Baldwin – The Charley Project

Last updated April 14, 2025; age-progression updated

 

[appleatcha]

This article was updated in March 2025, but I can't tell what information (if any) is new. Still worth sharing again, in my opinion.

Ava Grace Baldwin: Father believes daughter hidden by her mother - NewsNation

For now, Hopper and his family post letters to Ava on a Facebook page, hoping that one day she’ll stumble across it and see how much she is loved and missed.

“It’s hard to watch my brother go through this. This is his only child,” Fullbright said. “That’s all he’s ever wanted, a family, and he deserves to have his daughter in his life.”

Hopper said sometimes he has to distance himself from his daughter’s disappearance because not knowing where she is eats him up inside.

“You ask me if she’s still alive. Sometimes, I have my doubts, I’ll be honest with you, but when you ask me I answer with confidence because I believe that God is true to his word,” Hopper said. “That he said he would watch over her, that he would protect her that he would keep her safe. And that he would bring her home one day.”