The mother of missing Texas teen Camila Mendoza Olmos was left devastated after authorities recovered a body in a field close to the family’s San Antonio home, nearly a week after the 19-year-old vanished.
On Tuesday, sheriff’s deputies and FBI agents discovered human remains in a Bexar County field, just a short distance from where Camila was last seen heading out for a walk on Christmas Eve.
According to those present, Camila’s mother, Rosario Olmos, appeared to be in shock as the discovery was made.
“So close to home,” she repeatedly said, according to Frank Trevino, who has been assisting with the search efforts.
“Her eyes were not there,” Trevino told the Daily Mail, describing Rosario’s reaction at the scene.
Human Remains Found Days After Teen Disappeared
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said the body appeared to have been in the field for approximately five or six days.
Authorities have not yet formally identified the remains or confirmed the cause of death.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office is continuing its investigation and is expected to provide further information in the coming days.
Officials confirmed that a firearm had been reported missing from the Olmos family home after Camila disappeared.
A gun was later recovered near the body in the field.
While authorities have not officially confirmed whether it is the same weapon, the Daily Mail reported that the gun found was a 9mm Luger pistol – the same make as the firearm reported missing.
A source also told the outlet that the remains matched Camila’s description, though formal identification is still pending.
Last Known Moments Before Camila Vanished
Camila, who hoped to one day become an orthodontist, was last seen by her mother early on Christmas Eve morning.
Rosario believed her daughter was heading out on her usual walk.
Security footage from outside the family home showed Camila wearing pajama shorts and a black hoodie as she appeared to rummage through her car.
The video cuts off shortly afterward.
Officials later revealed that Camila had left her phone behind at home, something her family described as unusual.
Authorities had previously searched the field where the body was found, located roughly 250 yards from the family’s home.
However, they returned to the area after learning that dense brush may have prevented a thorough search during earlier efforts.
Sheriff Shares Preliminary Findings
Sheriff Salazar said foul play is not currently suspected, with early indicators pointing toward “self-harm.”
He also revealed that investigators uncovered information suggesting Camila had been experiencing suicidal thoughts and signs of depression.
“It appeared she was a young person going through a very tough time in her life,” Salazar said, adding that Camila had been struggling with school, work, and the recent end of a relationship.
However, Camila’s father, Alfonso Mendoza, strongly disputed the idea that his daughter would take her own life.
“She would never do something like that to herself, to us,” he told the Daily Mail.
“She just wouldn’t. Not ever.”
He also pushed back on claims that her breakup had left her depressed, saying it ended mutually and respectfully.
“It ended on good terms, in a lovely way,” he said.
The sheriff said he hopes the medical examiner will identify the remains and confirm the cause and manner of death “in the next day or two.”
The investigation remains ongoing.