Authorities confirmed that the body was that of 19-year-old Camila Mendoza Olmos, who vanished from her home in San Antonio, Texas, on the morning of Christmas Eve
Camila Mendoza Olmos was found dead after going missing(Image: Nancy Olmos/Facebook)
The family of a teenager found dead one week after she went missing have shared their heartbreak.
Authorities have confirmed Camila Mendoza Olmos, 19, ended her own life in San Antonio, Texas. Her remains were discovered in a field near her family home days after she vanished.
Speaking publically about Camila’s for the first time, a family spokesperson said today: “In the name of the Olmos family, we want to give a humble and heartfelt thank you to all the news reporters, police detectives, FBI, churches, friends, family and many other communities for your support and prayers. Our beloved Camila Mendoza Olmos is now with the Good Lord.”
Police led a huge search for the teenager last week and suspected she was in “imminent danger”. The operation continued and, on New Year’s Eve, it emerged authorities eventually discovered a body in a field.
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The teenager, from Texas, vanished without a trace on Christmas Eve(Image: Bexar County Sheriff’s Office)
Camila is pictured with a family member at home(Image: Jaidah Fuchs/Facebook)
The family statement, also published on Facebook, added: “We kindly ask that you please respect our pain and, most importantly, keep my cousin Rosario — Camila’s mom — and my nephew Carlos — Camila’s brother — in your prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”
Camila was last seen leaving her home on Caspian Spring Road in San Antonio on the morning of Wednesday December 24, just before 7am local time, police had said last week. Video footage showed a person officials believe was Camila searching her car for something before they believe she left the residence on foot. The teen was thought to be carrying her car keys and possibly her driver’s licence, but nothing else.
When concern grew for the student, police in Texas appealed for the help from members of the public as they conducted a search. The grim discovery was made on Tuesday.
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Speaking to reporters afterwards, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said: “From what has been described to us, it sounds like it was a young person going through a very tough time in their life, going through some emotional issues.”
Earlier this week, police released dashcam footage which they believed showed Camila walking along a path. Sheriff Salazar said the person in the video was wearing clothes that “certainly does match up with what she (Camila) was wearing”.
Camila had on a sky blue and black hooded jumper, pale blue pyjama bottoms, and white shoes when she vanished at around 7am on Christmas Eve. In the days following her disappearance, multiple agencies — including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security — assisted police in Texas.
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