In a sombre development, authorities have discovered a body near the San Antonio residence of Camila Mendoza Olmos, the 19-year-old Texas teenager who vanished on Christmas Eve morning. The grim find was made on Tuesday, December 30, during a renewed search effort in the area.
Discovery During Renewed Search
The Bexar County Sheriff's Office confirmed the discovery. Sheriff Javier Salazar stated that combined teams from his office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation located the body in a field approximately 100 yards from Mendoza Olmos’s home. This specific area had been searched before but was revisited due to concerns that tall grass may have hindered visibility in earlier sweeps.
The body was found at around 4:45 PM local time. While formal identification and an official cause of death are pending, Sheriff Salazar noted the clothing on the body appeared "very similar" to what Camila was believed to be wearing when she was last seen.
Investigation Details and Pending Forensics
Sheriff Salazar addressed the media, urging caution as the investigation proceeds. "We hope that we can expedite that process to try to get the community answers," he said. He revealed that investigators do not currently suspect foul play and indicated there were signs pointing toward self-harm, though he declined to give specifics out of sensitivity for the family.
A critical piece of evidence was confirmed: a firearm was found near the body. Investigators had previously been searching for a family member's firearm reported missing, and this aspect remains under active review.
Timeline of Disappearance and Community Impact
Camila Mendoza Olmos was last seen on the morning of December 24. A neighbour's doorbell camera captured her standing by her car just before 7 AM outside her San Antonio home. She was reported missing later that day, sparking an intensive multi-day search.
Authorities mentioned that Mendoza Olmos had been "going through a tough time" before her disappearance, though no further personal details have been disclosed publicly.
The next steps involve a formal autopsy, toxicology tests, and conclusive identification. Officials have promised to release more information once forensic work is complete and the family has been fully notified. For now, the community is asked to be patient as the process unfolds, marking a tragic turn in a case that has gripped San Antonio and beyond.
