New developments have been released in the case of missing Texas teenager Camila Mendoza Olmos, who was last seen leaving her San Antonio home on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
In a news conference Monday, Dec. 29, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said investigators believe she may have left alone after receiving footage from neighbors. Authorities received dash cam footage showing someone believed to be Olmos walking along Wildhorse Parkway the morning she disappeared around 7 a.m. Salazar said he could not say the person in the footage was 100 percent Olmos, but said the clothing seen on the individual matched what the teenager was last seen wearing.
“Unless we have evidence to the contrary, we believe she left the residence by herself,” Salazar said.
Salazar said Olmos had some hints of suicidal ideation in the past, saying there were some “depression issues.” He said, “But as a young man, what young man doesn’t have bouts of depression at one time or another?”
“We can’t necessarily afford to say, ‘Oh, well, this has to be it.’ We have to consider all possibilities, from intentional disappearance to the possibility of self-harm to the fact that someone could have taken her,” Salazar said. “We have to consider all possibilities at this point … We can’t begin to narrow it down until some evidence leads us to that.”
When did Camila Mendoza Olmos disappear?
Olmos was last seen leaving her home on the 11000 block of Caspian Spring in northwest Bexar County at approximately 6:58 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24, according to a CLEAR alert issued by BCSO the morning of Christmas Eve.
Video footage from the time shows an unknown person, believed to be Olmos, searching the interior of her vehicle for an unidentified item. A few moments later, the filming ends. She is believed to have left the residence on foot, her vehicle remained at the location.
The teenager’s mother told authorities that her daughter “usually goes for a walk in the morning.” However, she became concerned when her daughter did not return within a reasonable amount of time. Her mother noted that it is also unusual for her daughter to leave her phone at home, saying she leads an active lifestyle.
Salazar said he is working around the clock on the case. Salazar said multiple agencies have joined the search, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. Salazar confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not arrest Olmos, who is a U.S. citizen.
He asked for the community’s help in the search, asking neighbors in Olmos to check surveillance cameras for any footage of her. Salazar said investigators are focusing on her neighborhood and the surrounding area.
“Even if you don’t live here in this immediate neighborhood, maybe you live two or three communities over; it doesn’t cost you much more than your time to look through the surveillance video from that day and tell us, and let us be the judge,” Salazar said at the news conference. “Show it to us. Send it to us. Let’s judge whether it’s something usable or not.”
Search for Camila Mendoza Olmos
When Olmos went missing, her family and friends set up a search station at Wildhorse HOA Sports Park, 9700 Mustang Gate, San Antonio, TX 78254. Volunteer Frank Treviño told MySA they had not been searching as a group since Monday afternoon. He said hundreds of volunteers have searched the area around her home several times.
Olmos was last seen wearing a baby blue and black hoodie, baby blue pajama bottoms and white shoes. She is described as 5-foot-4 and approximately 110 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Officials said the only items Olmos may have had on her when she disappeared were “her car key and possibly her driver’s license.”
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation has joined the effort and is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to Olmos’ safe return.
Those who believe they may have more information on Olmos’ whereabouts can call the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office at (210) 335-6000; You can also contact the BCSO Missing Persons Unit at missingpersons@bexar.org.
Camila Mendoza Olmos is a student at Alamo Colleges
The Alamo College District released the following statement as Olmos is a student at Northwest Vista College:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Cami, her family, friends and the entire Northwest Vista College community during this deeply difficult time. … We know this news can be upsetting to many in our community. Employees in need of mental health support are encouraged to use the Employee Assistance Program offered through AllOne Health. Learn more about AlamoShare. for all students in the Alamo Colleges district. Thank you for keeping Cami and loved ones and for helping in any way.”
Editor’s note: If you are in crisis, please call, text or talk to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
This article was originally published at New developments in the case of the disappearance of Camila Mendoza Olmos.