Detectives in Santa Ana are turning to the public for help in the search for a missing 21-year-old woman who disappeared earlier this month after a day trip to Mexico.
Yasmin Benitez, who has a 4-year-old daughter, left her Santa Ana home on the morning of March 15 and was expected to return home that evening. The woman’s roommate — who also is her landlord and babysitter — told NBCLA that Benitez would never leave her young daughter.
The girl repeatedly asked about her mother during the days that followed her departure, Agripina Gonzalez said.
“Often times, she’s asking, ‘Why is my mom not here?’ All I want is her mom to come back so she can return to her daughter,” Gonzalez said.
Benitez left the Pine Street home with her brother to visit family in Tijuana, Gonzalez said, adding that she called Benitez Sunday evening and her brother answered the phone. The brother told her his sister was at the dentist and cannot answer the phone, Gonzalez said.
The family of Benitez’s boyfriend reported the woman missing on Tuesday, police said. Santa Ana police have posted information on social media about the case, including a photo of Benitez.
“She would never go to TJ for any reason… she seemed very happy, left her residence, didn’t take anything with her, so it’s very unusual she would just leave and never come back,” said Natalie Garcia, public information officer for the Santa Ana Police Department. “We’ve canvassed area. We’ve talked to neighbors, contacted family, so now we’ve gone to social media and the public to see if anyone can help us find Yasmin.”
The daughter is in the custody of child protective services.