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In a somber development in Ontario, California, authorities have discovered a body during the search for Camila Mendoza Olmos, who vanished on Christmas Eve in San Antonio, Texas. The search, which has been ongoing, took a turn when a search party made the grim discovery on Tuesday afternoon.
Camila, who has been missing since the early hours of Wednesday, was the subject of an intense search effort led by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Javier Salazar announced the discovery of the body in a nearby field, though the identity has not yet been confirmed as Camila’s.
Alongside the body, officials found a firearm. While the presence of this weapon adds a layer of complexity, Sheriff Salazar emphasized that foul play is not currently suspected. However, he noted that it’s premature to definitively link the body to Camila without further investigation.
The case has been particularly troubling given that Camila was reportedly experiencing mental health issues before her disappearance. This aspect has been a focal point in the investigation as authorities continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding her vanishing. Additionally, there had been an earlier report of a missing firearm from Camila’s family, adding to the urgency and complexity of the search efforts.
He added that authorities had been searching for a missing firearm belonging to a member of her family.
Salazar previously said the 19-year-old may have been having mental health challenges.
In the U.S., the national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
The medical examiner will confirm the body’s identity and cause of death.
RELATED | New video may show teen girl who’s been missing since Christmas Eve: Sheriff
Dashboard camera video released may show Mendoza Olmos right when she went missing. Investigators believe footage shows the college student walking near her home the morning she disappeared.
The video in the player above is from a previous report.
Mendoza Olmos grew up in Southern California and still has close family ties.
“It’s been very heartbreaking,” Priscilla Flores, Mendoza Olmos’ cousin, told Eyewitness News Monday. “It’s just unbelievable, everything that’s going on, especially this time of year.”
“We’ve got to consider all possibilities at this point,” Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said at a news conference. “Unfortunately, for us, we can’t start narrowing that down until some evidence takes us to that, and we’re not there yet.”
