Police searching for missing Horizon West teenager

D.J. Betancourt, a 14-year-old freshman at Horizon High, was last seen Wednesday evening leaving his Horizon West home wearing a black hoodie and light grey sweatpants.

By Sam Albuquerque
| 11:45 a.m. March 21, 2025

Southwest Orange
News

UPDATE Friday, March 21: D.J. Betancourt has been located safe and is back with his family.

Police are looking for a missing teenager last seen at approximately 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, leaving his Horizon West home.

D.J. Betancourt, the missing 14-year-old Horizon High School student, is a 5-foot-2, 105-pound white male with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, light grey sweatpants and black sandals.

According to information gathered by the Orange Observer, Betancourt left his family's home upset and did not have his cell phone with him. He also did not have any spare clothes or money.

The family quickly filed a missing person report and are asking parents of Horizon High and Hamlin Middle School students who might know the missing teen to check if their children have any information that might help bring him home.

Anyone with information on D.J.'s whereabouts should contact the Orange County Sheriff's Office's non-emergency line: (407) 836-4357.

author

Sam Albuquerque

A native of João Pessoa, Brazil, Sam Albuquerque moved in 1997 to Central Florida as a kid. After earning a communications degree in 2016 from the University of Central Florida, he started his career covering sports as a producer for a local radio station, ESPN 580 Orlando. He went on to earn a master’s degree in editorial journalism from Northwestern University, before moving to South Carolina to cover local sports for the USA Today Network’s Spartanburg Herald-Journal. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his lovely wife, Sarah, newborn son, Noah, and dog named Skulí.