SAN ANTONIO – Search efforts continue in the disappearance of Camila Mendoza Olmos, who was last seen on Dec. 24.
KSAT has been covering this story since Friday, when the Texas Department of Public Safety issued a CLEAR Alert for her.
Here’s what we know about the case.
Camila Mendoza Olmos disappears on Dec. 24
Mendoza Olmos was last seen at 6:58 a.m. Wednesday, outside of her family home, in the 11000 block of Caspian Spring in northwest Bexar County. She was wearing a black North Face sweater with baby blue accents, baby blue shorts and white shoes.
The missing person’s report included that she is 5 feet 4 inches tall, has brown hair, brown eyes and weighs 110 pounds.
Her phone and all belongings, except her car key, are still at home, including her car. Her friends said she usually goes for walks, but also always has her phone with her.
The 19-year-old may be in danger, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Javier Salazar said she has a history of suicidal ideation, but he wants her to know that there is help.
“She’s got people here that love her very much and are more than willing to help her deal with whatever she may be going through right now,” Salazar told ABC News.
Salazar said Mendoza Olmos recently went through a romantic breakup, but authorities said the breakup was mutual and they don’t suspect anything “nefarious” was involved, saying everyone close to her is cooperating.
New video shows pedestrian believed to be Mendoza Olmos
On Dec. 28, the sheriff’s office was made aware of a dashcam video believed to show Mendoza Olmos walking alone around 7 a.m. on Dec. 24 — the morning of her disappearance.
During a Dec. 29 news conference, Salazar said he can’t say with “100% certainty” that it is Mendoza Olmos in the video but said the clothing of the person in the video matches her clothing description.
The person in the video appears to be walking out on Wildhorse Parkway and taking a left, Salazar said.
The video was captured from a few blocks from Mendoza Olmos’ home and showed a normal part of her walking route, according to Salazar.
Salazar urged people in the community – including residents in surrounding communities – to check any surveillance footage they may have from around 7 a.m. on Dec. 24.
Anyone who believes they may have video or information regarding the case is urged to contact the sheriff’s office at 210-335-6000 or email BCSOtips@bexar.org.
“Let us be the judge whether it’s something usable or not,” Salazar said. “What we don’t want you to do is feel silly calling us and in reality, you’re holding on to something that could help us out with this case.”
Watch the full Dec. 29 news conference below:
Search efforts ongoing
The FBI has been involved with digital evidence, including enhancing video, Salazar said.
“We will continue working closely with BCSO to determine whether a federal violation exists and to support their ongoing investigation,” an FBI San Antonio spokesperson told KSAT.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is also checking outbound flights and border crossings. Salazar said there is not any direct information to suggest that Mendoza Olmos left the country, but authorities are looking at every possibility.
“We definitely don’t want to miss anything,” Salazar previously said. “The ground search is somewhat limited to a couple of square miles. We’re also not ruling out that this case may take us outside the borders of the continental United States.”
Investigators believe Mendoza Olmos left the home on foot. Salazar also confirmed that Mendoza Olmos was not detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite her being a U.S. citizen.
“Unless we have evidence to show otherwise, we do believe she walked away from her residence,” Salazar said at the Dec. 29 news conference.
Salazar noted there are indications Mendoza Olmos suffered from suicidal ideation and depression in the past.
“We’ve got to consider all possibilities, from disappearing willfully, to the possibility of self-harm, to somebody may have taken her. … Unfortunately for us, we can’t start narrowing that down until some evidence takes us to that,” Salazar said.
The sheriff’s office set up a local command post and is continuing to search in the area. Salazar said search parties are urged to avoid areas where law enforcement is actively working.
Family pleads for safe return
Mendoza Olmos’ family isn’t giving up hope. KSAT spoke with her family members on Monday, who were continuing their search efforts.
“Your mom is destroyed, but she’s very strong, and we’re going to find you,” Nancy Olmos, Camila’s aunt, told KSAT. “Even if we had to pick up a rock, we will find you. We will find you, baby. We’re coming to you. Hold tight, fight it, you know God, you know God, so please baby, please, honey pray to God that he will bring you to us.”
Camila’s mother was present on Monday, helping with the search.
“It’s not Christmas for me; it’s not for us. It is the most terrible day of my life,” said Rosario Olmos.
Some family members drove 17 hours from California to Texas to help search for her along with more than 100 other people, according to Camila’s dad, Alfonso Mendoza.
Camila’s brother, Carlos Mendoza, flew back into town as soon as he learned his sister was missing on Christmas Eve.
“We’ve been searching on foot within a three-mile radius,” Carlos Mendoza said over the weekend. “I want her to come back.”
Anyone with information on Mendoza Olmos’ whereabouts is urged to contact the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office at 210-335-6000.
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