The search continues for Camila Mendoza Olmos, a 19-year-old woman who has been missing since Christmas Eve.
Mendoza Olmos was last seen around 6:58 a.m. on Dec. 24 leaving her residence on foot in the 11000 block of Caspian Spring, a neighborhood near Loop 1604 and Shaenfield Road, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
Home surveillance footage shows an individual believed to be Mendoza Olmos searching inside her car for an unidentified item moments before the footage ends. Her car and cellphone were left at home; she is believed to have left the area with only her car keys and possibly her driver’s license according to BCSO.
Mendoza Olmos’ mother Rosario Olmos told authorities that she typically goes for morning walks but when she did not return within a reasonable period of time she became concerned and reported her missing. She was last seen wearing a baby blue and black hoodie, baby blue pajama bottoms and white shoes.
With the case entering its sixth day, law enforcement and volunteers are in the field conducting targeted ground searches as colder weather moves into the area. BCSO officials say that multiple searches have already been conducted utilizing deputies, investigators, drones and even cadaver dogs, but despite these efforts, Mendoza Olmos has yet to be located.
Among the volunteer groups canvassing the area is Search and Support San Antonio, a nonprofit that provides free search, rescue, discovery and recovery services to those who are missing their loved ones.
“We brought out drones on Saturday to look in the area. We are out here again today, searching and re-searching some of the areas that we’ve looked at and just looking for any lead, any possibilities,” said Lori Wittmeyer, case intake manager for Search and Support San Antonio. “ She just seems to have vanished.”
Wittmeyer said volunteer teams are working to coordinate closely with law enforcement to avoid duplicating efforts and to focus on areas where they are most likely to help.
“In this type of venture, we all work together,” she said. “ We are waiting to hear back from them to see where we could best be utilized. We don’t want to be in the way and interfere with their efforts.“
As a cold front brings temperatures into the low 40s this week, searchers raised additional concerns.
“If she is out here on her own, without appropriate shelter and clothing, that’s obviously a great concern,” Wittmeyer said. “We’re just hoping for the best.”
Alongside the changing weather, Sheriff Javier Salazar told ABC news in an interview on Sunday, that there is enough information to suggest Mendoza Olmos is in “imminent danger.” At a press conference on Monday, he said they believe she is in danger due to a history of suicidal ideation and attempted self harm.
Salazar confirmed that multiple agencies including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security are assisting in the case. In a statement provided to the San Antonio Report on Monday, an FBI spokesperson said the agency is supporting the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office by providing “resources and expertise, including digital forensic analysis,” and will continue working with investigators to determine whether a federal violation exists.
Salazar told reporters on Monday that the FBI has conducted digital forensic analysis on Mendoza Olmos’ iPhone and iPad that were left behind at home.
DHS is monitoring border crossings and international travel, Salazar said. He has also confirmed to ABC News that Mendoza Olmos was not detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), citing a “personal concern” of his.
Salazar said investigators have not ruled out any possibilities in her disappearance. Mendoza Olmos recently went through a romantic breakup, but Salazar told ABC it was mutual and authorities do not suspect anything “nefarious” was involved, adding that everyone close to her was cooperating with the investigation.
As the official search continues, additional community organizations have also begun mobilizing resources.
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation, also known as the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, said in a press release Saturday it is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to Camila’s location and her safe return. On Tuesday afternoon, the reward was increased to $6,000 thanks to a new donation from an Austin woman.
In its statement, the foundation said volunteers are expanding search efforts beyond San Antonio, focusing on community canvassing and flyer distribution across Central Texas, including Waco, Round Rock and Temple. Volunteers are also monitoring social media channels in hopes of identifying new information.
However, as attention around the case grows online, organizers are urging the public to be cautious about the speculation circulating on social media.
“There’s so much speculation… I would just ask people to deal with the situation and the family with grace,” Wittmeyer said. “Just be careful of what comments that you make because it’s a very difficult situation and we just want it to be something that we can get through, resolve and bring her home as quickly as we possibly can.”
Both law enforcement and volunteer groups continue to stress that one of the most helpful steps residents can take is reviewing home surveillance or doorbell camera footage from the morning of Dec. 24.
Anyone with information about Mendoza Olmos’ whereabouts is asked to contact BCSO at 210-335-6000 or email bcsotips@bexar.org. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
Bexar County Sheriff’s Office recently announced a restructuring to keep pace with the growing number of missing person cases each year. Local advocates hope the dedicated missing persons unit could ease strain on investigators and families navigating an often overwhelmed system.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
