A body has been found near a field where Camila Mendoza Olmos was last seen, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Tuesday evening during a press conference, the individual’s identity has not yet been confirmed.
Salazar said investigators had been operating under the possibility of self-harm, and that there are indications the death may have been self-inflicted, though he emphasized that the cause and manner of death have not been determined and will be confirmed by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Salazar said investigators were also searching for a firearm that was unaccounted for from the residence, a detail that had not previously been made public.
A firearm was recovered at the scene, he said but emphasized that authorities have not yet confirmed whether it is the same weapon.
He added that the clothing worn by the unidentified individual matches the description of what Camila Mendoza Olmos was last seen wearing.
Salazar reiterated that officials do not currently suspect foul play.
The body was found in a field about a quarter mile from the search staging area and about a hundred yards from Camila’s residence, Salazar said.
According to the sheriff, the discovery was made by a joint search team from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI during a renewed ground search Monday afternoon. The FBI, which had previously assisted with intelligence and digital forensic work, deployed agents to assist with boots-on-the-ground searching, Salazar said.
Investigators made a deliberate decision to re-search an area that had already been checked, citing tall grass and visibility concerns. Salazar said the body was located approximately 10 minutes after the renewed search began.
As of Tuesday evening, authorities were processing the scene, and Salazar said additional information would be released once identification is confirmed and the medical examiner completes its work.
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