Authorities in Texas find body during search for missing teen Camila Mendoza Olmos
UPDATE — 12/30/25 at 8:05 PM ET: On Tuesday, December 30, a body was found by police searching a field for any sign of the missing teenager Camila Mendoza Olmos.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the discovery of the remains, but said they have not been identified at this time. An official cause of death has not yet been determined. However, Sheriff Javier Salazar did share that the recovered body was found wearing clothing that was “very similar” to what investigators believe Mendoza Olmos was wearing when she was last seen.
During the search in the field, which is not far from Mendoza Olmos’ house, a firearm was also discovered, Salazar revealed.
Original story:
A 19-year-old girl in Texas is believed to be in “imminent danger” after she disappeared on Christmas Eve.
Camila Mendoza Olmos was last seen on Wednesday morning, December 24, when she left her family home in Bexar County, Texas, around 6:58 a.m., according to a police statement. Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO).
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said ABC News that the sheriff’s office is cooperating with the FBI in the search for Mendoza Olmos, and with the Department of Homeland Security in monitoring potential border crossings and international travel.
Salazar also noted that they believe Mendoza Olmos is in “imminent danger,” sharing that investigators have not ruled out kidnapping and human trafficking as possible factors in her disappearance. He did note that she could also have left her home of her own accord.
“We definitely don’t want to miss anything,” Salazar said. “The investigation on the ground is somewhat limited to a few square miles. We also cannot rule out that this case may take us beyond the borders of the continental United States.”
Mendoza Olmos’ mother, Rosario Olmossaid she and her daughter were sleeping together at their home on the morning of Christmas Eve when she felt the teen get out of bed, according to KENS.
The mother said she woke up about 90 minutes later to find her daughter was not home, although her car was still at the home. Rosario tried to find her daughter by calling her cell phone, although she later discovered it was in bed.
“I loaded it up and went outside to look for her. I thought I would find her walking like other times, and we would come home together,” she told the outlet, adding that her daughter often started her mornings with a walk.
While not much is known about Mendoza Olmos’ disappearance, ABC News reported that investigators believe she left the home on foot. Salazar added that it was “very unusual” for Mendoza Olmos to leave without her phone, which he said made the matter significantly more concerning. “That’s why we’re basically working on this case 24 hours a day,” he said.
Salazar also revealed that Mendoza Olmos had recently gone through a “mutual” breakup before her disappearance. However, authorities do not believe anything ‘nefarious’ has happened in light of the split.
Additionally, Salazar confirmed to ABC News that Mendoza Olmos is a U.S. citizen and was not detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“That was a personal concern,” Salazar said. “So I had it checked to make sure there were no arrests, and that she wasn’t in a federal detention facility somewhere. We had to check that.”
He also said her friends and family are all cooperating with authorities as the investigation into her disappearance continues.
The teen was last seen wearing a baby blue and black hoodie, baby blue pajama pants and white shoes.
Police are asking for help investigating the disappearance of Mendoza Olmos. Anyone with information on her whereabouts has been asked to call the BCSO at (210) 335-6000 or email the department’s missing persons unit opmissingpersons@bexar.org.
