Left for a Morning Walk and Never Returned: Texas Teen Missing, Police Fear Kidnapping

A large-scale search is underway for 19-year-old Camila Mendoza Olmos, who disappeared outside her home in Bexar County, Texas, on the morning of 24 December, according to the BBC. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said Mendoza Olmos left for her usual morning walk but never returned, prompting concern from her family. Sheriff Javier Salazar said authorities believe she may be in “imminent danger,” and are not ruling out kidnapping or human trafficking, though they acknowledge she may have left voluntarily. Investigators are also considering the possibility the case could cross international borders.

As reported by the BBC, the search has yielded few clues, aside from surveillance video believed to show Mendoza Olmos searching in the back of her car before walking away, leaving the vehicle behind. Authorities said she likely had only her car keys and possibly her driver’s license, noting it was unusual for her to leave without her phone. Sheriff Salazar confirmed she was not detained by immigration authorities, saying, “That was a personal concern. So, I had it checked to make sure that there were no stops, no detentions, and that she’s not somewhere in a federal detention facility.” Local, state, and federal agencies, including the FBI, are assisting in the search, as family members continue to appeal for her safe return.