The mother of a 4-year-old boy disappeared more than three months ago.

SAN ANTONIO – The mother of a 4-year-old boy has been missing for more than three months. Now the missing woman’s mother and little boy’s grandmother believe she may have been murdered.

Kate Vara’s mom, Valerie Mendoza, says her daughter was last seen on Aug. 6. The family, including 4-year-old James, celebrated Vara’s 27th birthday without her on September 8.

“(James) was like, ‘Where’s mommy?’ Because it’s mom’s birthday and we’re doing something for mom and mom isn’t here,” Mendoza said.

“(James) himself told me, ‘Mommy’s gone,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, baby, Mommy’s gone,’ and he was like, ‘Where’s Mommy,’ and I said, ‘I don’t know where Mommy is.’ in, but we will find her,” Mendoza said.

According to Mendoza, Vara suffered from substance abuse but was going to a clinic on the West Side of San Antonio for treatment. August 6 was the day of one of her meetings.

“She came to the reception. There was camera footage of her coming to the meeting and leaving, and then no one has seen her since,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza says things became confusing in the days following Vara’s disappearance. One of Vara’s friends said he dropped her off at a random house on the West Side, not far from where she lived, around 1 a.m. on Aug. 9, but Vara left her phone in his car.

“I was like, well, why didn’t you bring it back? I even asked him what she was wearing when he dropped her off, but he couldn’t even answer me. He just walked around and said something else and now no one can find him,” Mendoza said.

San Antonio has not identified the man as a potential suspect. SAPD says there have been no updates on the case. However, Mendoza told us that the SAPD Homicide Unit is now assisting the Missing Persons Unit with Vara’s case.

“Do you believe she’s still there?” asked KSAT reporter John Paul Barajas.

“I feel like she’s gone, despite what people say in Kate’s neighborhood: I feel like she’s gone, but still, I want her to come home,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza explained that people in the West Side neighborhood where Kate lives started speculating. So far, Mendoza has raised money for a $3,000 reward, hoping someone will come forward. She tries to stay strong for James.

“It’s so hard because I never thought this would be our life,” Mendoza said. “For the people who are responsible, I’m never going to stop looking, I’m not going to keep looking, and then when I find her, I’m going to get justice for her,” Mendoza said.