Balancing her studies at the University of New Mexico with a job at a bank, sophomore Tara Calico leads a busy life. On the morning of September 20, she sets out for her usual bike ride on her mom’s pink Huffy bike, a familiar routine she enjoys before heading to play tennis with her boyfriend later in the day. In a casual but fateful remark, she tells her mother, Patty, to come looking for her if she isn’t back by noon.
When Tara doesn’t return by 12:05, Patty’s concern grows. Expecting to find her daughter walking with her bike due to a possible flat tire, she retraces Tara’s usual route by car. Reaching the train tracks, where Tara typically turns around, Patty sees no sign of her daughter. Assuming they somehow missed each other, she heads back home, anxiety mounting.
Worried, Patty contacts Tara’s boyfriend, who confirms he hasn’t seen her. Realizing the situation is serious, she calls the police, who promptly begin a search for the missing 19-year-old. Tara’s disappearance is unusual, prompting immediate action from law enforcement.
As the search intensifies, Tara’s sister Michele, along with friends and her boyfriend, join the effort. With a storm looming and temperatures dropping, the group spreads out along the roadway, walking hand in hand, determined to find any trace of Tara.
Their fears escalate when they discover evidence about two and a half miles down the route. Tire tracks, appearing spun out, suggest a struggle occurred. Disturbingly, these are interspersed with the marks of a bicycle, hinting at an unsettling scenario that has left everyone deeply concerned for Tara’s safety.
About two and a half miles down the search route, some tire tracks that look spun out are discovered on the side of the road. It seems like there was a scuffle, and the bike marks are visible amongst the tire marks from the vehicle.
Tara is known to use a distinctive, bright yellow Walkman on her bike ride, and when a broken piece of a bright yellow Walkman is found in the area of the tire marks, her sister, Michele, believes it is Tara leaving a trail to follow.
A cassette tape of the band “Boston” is discovered about three miles from her home on the side of Highway 47. Tara’s mother, Patty, identifies the tape as belonging to Tara, saying that it is what Tara was listening to on her bike ride.
Tara Calico was last seen riding her mother’s neon pink Huffy mountain bicycle on Highway 47 about two miles from her home in Belen.
A dirty white or light gray 1953 Ford pickup truck with a white, handmade shell was following directly behind her. Still, investigators don’t know if the truck has anything to do with the disappearance of Tara Calico.
Joining Nancy Grace:
Additional Guest
- John Day – Criminal Defense Attorney of John Day Law
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo: Family Handout]
