CA CA - Mary Elizabeth Rico, 50, Oceanside, 02 April 1992

[Mysteries1974]

The Doe Network:
Case File 1160DFCA

Mary E Rico
Missing since April 2, 1992 from Oceanside, San Diego County, California.
Classification: Missing





Vital Statistics

• • Date Of Birth: October 9, 1941
  • Age at Time of Disappearance: 50 years old
  • Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'7"; 130 lbs.
  • Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Brown hair; blue eyes.
  • Marks, Scars: Scar on right cheek, scar from test tube, left side and an old rib fracture.
  • AKA: Mary Elizabeth Rico; Mary Elizabeth Rico-Webber; Mary Elizabeth Pressey
  • Dentals: Available

Circumstances of Disappearance
Rico was last seen at her Camelot Drive home in Oceanside, California on April 2, 1992.
Rico was last seen at her Camelot Drive home in Oceanside, California on April 2, 1992. Rico was employed as a instructional aide at Mission Elementary School. Another instructional aide at the school, Margaret Yossa, disappeared in February of 1994. The women knew each other, shared similar jobs and lived within a mile of each other. Also, on the day they disappeared, each had been shopping at the same grocery store, Ralphs, along Oceanside Boulevard. Rico's son said she always shopped at the store, which is less than a mile from where she lived. Later that afternoon, a friend went to Rico's house on Camelot Drive but found no one at home.
When she failed to attend a relative's wedding nine days earlier her brother reported her missing.

When her son went to Rico's Oceanside home, he found the rear patio glass door broken, blood smears on his mother's bed, and the telephone line outside her house cut. Police searched the house and found nothing to indicate that Rico had left on purpose. Both her cars were still in the garage, her suitcases remained in the closet, and her purse and wallet were on the bed. Among other items found in the house was a credit card receipt from Ralphs grocery dated April 2, and signed by Rico.
Police say they have no reason to connect the two cases.





Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Oceanside Police Department
760-435-4900

Agency Case Number: 92011279

NCIC Number: M-568596424
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Source Information:
California Department of Justice
The San Diego Union-Tribune
The Doe Network: Case File 1160DFCA
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)


Return to the Unexplained Disappearances' Index

 

[Mysteries1974]

Mary Elizabeth Rico

• 

Rico, circa 1992

• Missing Since04/02/1992
• Missing FromOceanside, California
• ClassificationEndangered Missing
• Date of Birth10/09/1941 (77)
• Age50 years old
• Height and Weight5'7, 130 pounds
• Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian female. Brown hair, blue eyes. Rico may use the last names Pressey and/or Rico-Webber. She has previously sustained a fracture in her rib area. She has a scar on her left side from a test tube and a scar on her right cheek.

Details of Disappearance
Rico was last seen at her home on Camelot Drive in Oceanside, California on April 2, 1992. She missed a her favorite niece's wedding nine days later.

Rico was reported missing on April 20. A neighbor went to the police said he saw her standing in the background of a television newscast ten days after she was last seen. The newscast was about groups protesting an execution, and Rico was politically active and championed liberal causes.

Authorities closed the case after the neighbor came forward with the sighting of Rico on television, but more than a month later the missing persons file was reopened because her family still hadn't heard from her. The television sighting was later discounted.

When her son came down from northern California to check Rico's home, he found the rear patio's glass door broken and a small amount of blood smeared on Rico's bed. (Authorities are unsure how long the bloodstains had been there; Rico wasn't a good housekeeper and it's possible the blood had been present for some time prior to her disappearance.) The outside telephone line had been cut.

There was nothing to indicate Rico had left of her own accord. Her car was in the garage, her suitcases were in the closet and her wallet and purse were on the bed. A bridal slip she had planned to give to her niece was laid out on the ironing table.

Rico was formerly employed as an instructional aide at Mission Elementary School, but she quit her job in 1991 because of personal problems relating to her divorce. Another aide at the school, Margaret Yossa, disappeared in February of 1994. Her skeletal remains were found in a field in September. No one has ever been charged in her death.

The two women knew each other and lived within a mile of one another. On the day they disappeared, each had been shopping at the same grocery store, Ralph's, along Oceanside Boulevard. In spite of the similarities, however, investigators have not found anything to connect the two cases.

In 1998, Oceanside police tore up the foundation of Rico's former residence, which was condemned after her disappearance. Workers had earlier found a human-sized patch of concrete under some rugs in the floor, and investigators thought Rico's remains might be buried there. It is unknown what, if any, evidence the search produced.

Rico's case remains unsolved.
Investigating Agency

• Oceanside Police Department 760-435-4911

Source Information

• California Attorney General's Office
• The Doe Network
• The San Diego Union-TTribune
• Mary Elizabeth Rico – The Charley Project

Updated 2 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated September 10, 2008; distinguishing characteristics and details of disappearance updated

 

[cvaldez1975]

that's so strange.

 

[YaYa_521]

I've suggested Mary as a potential match to this Jane Doe.

IL - IL - Jefferson Co., WhtFem Head 166UFIL, 30-50, wry neck syndrome, Jan'93

 

[Sleuth91]

Bumping this thread for Mary.

 

[bearfossils]

I know police say they have no reason to connect the disappearance of Mary Rico and the murder of Margaret Yasso, but I find it very strange that both were instructional aides at the same elementary school and both had visited the same grocery store the day they vanished. They lived close to one another, so I’m sure it’s not strange they visited the same places, but still odd they both vanished after visiting Ralph’s. I read on another site that there was an unsolved arson in November of 1992 at the Mission Elementary where they worked. Another strange occurrence? Whether they are related or not, both women deserve justice. Bumping.

 

[Murder Inc]

I know police say they have no reason to connect the disappearance of Mary Rico and the murder of Margaret Yasso, but I find it very strange that both were instructional aides at the same elementary school and both had visited the same grocery store the day they vanished. They lived close to one another, so I’m sure it’s not strange they visited the same places, but still odd they both vanished after visiting Ralph’s. I read on another site that there was an unsolved arson in November of 1992 at the Mission Elementary where they worked. Another strange occurrence? Whether they are related or not, both women deserve justice. Bumping.

Police aren't known for their critical thinking skills. Oceanside Killer

 

[Murder Inc]

 

[Murder Inc]

is Mary Rico the woman found in Carlsbad on Dec 2 1994 featured on the Oceanside Killer Murder Inc. post? Seems unlikely, height is given as 5'4 (Mary was 5'7) and it's two years after Mary disappeared.

 

[chatnoir84]

is Mary Rico the woman found in Carlsbad on Dec 2 1994 featured on the Oceanside Killer Murder Inc. post? Seems unlikely, height is given as 5'4 (Mary was 5'7) and it's two years after Mary disappeared.

No, Mary Rico is still classified as missing.

 

[Murder Inc]

No, Mary Rico is still classified as missing.

Right, but that doesn't mean LE hasn't failed to match her identify to an unidentified person.

 

[chatnoir84]

Right, but that doesn't mean LE hasn't failed to match her identify to an unidentified person.

Did they ever identify the person found in Carlsbad in 1994?

 

[Murder Inc]

Did they ever identify the person found in Carlsbad in 1994?

Not that I can find but she's also not in NAMUS

 

[chatnoir84]

Not that I can find but she's also not in NAMUS

Interesting...Nothing on the state's site as well.

 

[donaldw]

Was there any investigation into her ex?

 

[spartanx]

Was there any investigation into her ex?

maybe it would be his ex? or maybe a political assassination?

 

[rleigh123]

I just heard about this case on YouTube. It's so frustrating.

And frustrating that it didn't get more attention.

I wonder if AMW or UM ever covered it. It seems like an ideal case for them.

I hope some cold case team picks this up.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Mary Elizabeth Rico – The Charley Project

 

[Pennysmom1]

Mary E Rico

oag.ca.gov

https://www.oceansidepolice.com/home/showpublisheddocument/9800/638002449452270000

 

[Pennysmom1]

1160DFCA - Mary Elizabeth Rico

Mary Elizabeth Rico

Name: Mary Elizabeth Rico
Case Classification: Missing
Missing Since: April 2, 1992
Location Last Seen: Oceanside, San Diego County, California

Physical Description​

Date of Birth: October 9, 1941
Age: 50 years old
Race: White/Caucasian
Gender: Female
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 130 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Nickname/Alias: Mary Elizabeth Rico-Webber, Mary Rico-Webber, Mary Elizabeth Pressey
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Mary has a scar on her left side from a chest tube, a scar on her right cheek, an an old rib fracture.

Identifiers​

Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Unknown

Clothing & Personal Items​

Clothing: Unknown
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Disappearance​

Rico was last seen at her Camelot Drive home in Oceanside, California on April 2, 1992. When a friend went to Rico's house to go on a planned ski trip, she found the front door open, but Mary was not at home.

When Rico's son went to his mother's home, he found the rear patio glass door broken, blood smears on his mother's bed, and the telephone line outside her house cut. Police searched the house and found nothing to indicate that Rico had left on purpose. Both her cars were still in the garage, her suitcases remained in the closet, and her purse, wallet, credit cards and ID were left on her bed. A credit card receipt from Ralph's grocery dated April 2 (the day she was last seen) and signed by Rico was also found in the house.

Rico is presumed to be deceased.

Investigating Agency(s)​

Agency Name: Oceanside Police Department
Agency Contact Person: Keli Garcia, Detective Sergeant
Agency Phone Number: 760-435-4900
Agency E-Mail: Unknown
Agency Case Number: 92011279

NamUs Case Number: 55783
NCIC Case Number: M-568596424

Information Source(s)​

NamUs
California Office of the Attorney General
Oceanside Police Department
The San Diego Union-Tribune

Admin Notes​

Added: Prior to 2007; Last Updated: 10/20/21 - By: kw