Body found in search for missing Texas teenager who vanished on Christmas Eve
Texas law enforcement officials have confirmed a body has been found in the search for missing teenager Camila Mendoza Olmos, who vanished on Christmas Eve.
The 19-year-old was last seen leaving her home in Caspian Spring, San Antonio, just before 7.00am, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office in Texas.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar announced on Wednesday (December 30) that a body had been found in a nearby field by a search party on Tuesday afternoon.
He said foul play was not suspected, however, a firearm was found near the body.
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At this time, the identity of the body has not yet been confirmed, with Salazar saying it is still too early to determine whether the body is Camila.
He added that authorities had been searching for a missing firearm belonging to a member of her family.
The medical examiner will now confirm the body's identity and cause of death.
The latest news comes just one day after a press conference in which Salazar shared an update on the investigation, which indicated Camila may have been suffering from mental health challenges, including depression, and had previously expressed suicidal ideation in the past.
Despite this information, though, he was keen to reiterate that all lines of enquiry were still being pursued, including the possibility that she may have been abducted.
Police say Camila was wearing baby blue pajama bottoms, a baby blue and black hoodie and white shoes when she left the property.
Her disappearance came one day after she had reportedly made plans to go dress shopping with her friend Camila Estrella.
Footage of a person, who Bexar County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) believe is missing Camila, shows the teenager standing near her car in the early hours of Christmas Eve morning.
Multiple agencies joined the search for the teen, including the FBI, and members of Homeland Security had also confirmed she had not been detained or subjected to any immigration enforcement procedures.
"That was a personal concern. So, I had it checked to make sure that there were no stops, no detentions, and that she's not somewhere in a federal detention facility. That is something we needed to check," Salazar added.
Following her disappearance, BCSO said in a statement: "Camila’s mother stated that Camila normally goes for a morning walk; however, she became concerned when Camila did not return within a reasonable period of time.
"Video footage from that time shows an unknown individual, believed to be Camila, searching inside her vehicle for an unidentified item. Moments later, the footage ends. It is believed that she left the residence on foot, as her vehicle remained at the location.
"The only items known to be on her person are her car key and possibly her driver’s license."
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
Phoebe Tonks