Authorities in Texas are urgently searching for a teenage girl who disappeared on Christmas Eve and has not been seen since. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office says there is enough evidence to believe she may be in imminent danger.
The teen, identified as 19-year-old Camila Mendoza Olmos, was last seen early Wednesday morning leaving her home in northwest Bexar County.
Last Seen on Security Video Early Christmas Eve
According to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, security video captured a person believed to be Mendoza Olmos around 7:00 a.m. Wednesday. The footage shows her searching inside her vehicle for an unidentified item.
Investigators believe Mendoza Olmos left the residence on foot. Her vehicle was still at the home, and officials say she may have only taken her car keys and possibly her driver’s license.
Her last known location was the 11000 block of Caspian Spring, authorities said.
Massive Search Effort Underway
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told ABC News that deputies and volunteers have been searching nonstop since her disappearance.
Multiple agencies are now involved. The FBI is providing technical assistance, and the Department of Homeland Security is monitoring border crossings and international travel.
“We definitely don’t want to miss anything,” Salazar said. “We’re also not ruling out that this case may take us outside the borders of the continental United States.”
ABC News coverage
Investigators Say Nothing Is Ruled Out
Authorities say they are considering all possibilities, including kidnapping, human trafficking, or the chance that Mendoza Olmos left on her own.
Salazar confirmed the teen recently went through a romantic breakup. He said the split was mutual and that investigators do not suspect any wrongdoing connected to it.
Officials said everyone close to Mendoza Olmos has been cooperative.
Unusual Behavior Raises Serious Concerns
Mendoza Olmos was last seen wearing a baby-blue and black hoodie, baby-blue pajama bottoms, and white shoes.
Her mother told investigators that Camila often goes for morning walks. She became alarmed when her daughter did not return within a reasonable amount of time.
Salazar said it is highly unusual for Mendoza Olmos to leave her phone behind. He described her as active and said her failure to return home is deeply concerning.
“That’s why we’re working around the clock on this case,” Salazar said.
Sheriff Confirms She Is Not in ICE Custody
Salazar also addressed concerns about immigration enforcement. He confirmed Mendoza Olmos, a U.S. citizen, was not detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“That was something we needed to check,” Salazar said. “There were no stops and no detentions.”
While officials declined to share certain details, Salazar said investigators have enough information to believe Mendoza Olmos is in imminent danger.
Public Asked to Help
The sheriff’s office is asking neighbors in the area to review home surveillance footage from Christmas Eve for any clues.
Anyone with information about Camila Mendoza Olmos is urged to contact the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office at (210) 335-6000 or email the Missing Persons Unit at [email protected].
Authorities say every tip matters as the search continues.