Found Safe MO - Linda Esmerelda Garcia, 19, Columbia, traveled from TX, 1 Jan 2022

[mlhenn]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

19 yr old Hispanic female
5’2”
115 lbs
Brown hair, curly
Brown eyes

Tattoo
"Aydan" on left forearm, black rose on left wrist

Circumstances of Disappearance
Linda Garcia traveled from her home in Texas to Columbia, MO in late December to celebrate New Years with a man she had recently met online. Linda's family believes the man lives in Columbia.

Linda's mother reported she last spoke to Linda on the phone on 01/01/2022, and Linda said she would be headed back to Texas that same day.

Linda's mother reported that since that last phone call, Linda's phone has been turned off and her Instagram account deleted.

 

[mlhenn]

Columbia Police ask for help to find missing woman

Linda Garcia, 19, traveled from San Antonio, Texas to Columbia in December 2021, CPD said. She was seen with three other people.

She was possibly staying in a hotel/motel in the Columbia area, CPD said.

If you have any information, please contact your local law enforcement at 911 or CPD at 573-874-7652.

 

[Trinitee]

Beautiful girl, hope she is found safe soon.

 

[SimplyCass]

Travel distance from San Antonio, TX to Columbia, OH is around 1400 miles. 20 hours if by car or a five-hour flight.

When they say "seen with three other people," do they mean/imply they were all together as one travel party? Originating in San Antonio? Or possibly from different areas all meeting up in Columbia?

I have a hard time believing that someone - anyone - would travel that much distance to celebrate NYE with someone he/she had recently met online. I feel there should be more of a reason than that, like maybe other three persons were friends from work/school and were meeting up for the first time in a while. Or Columbia was a central meeting point or an important place to Linda or the other three.

Another thought - how seriously did Linda or the other three talk about or consider COVID? The caseload and spread of omicron was escalating quickly in December, but authorities were very reluctant to tell people to not travel and see family and friends. it might be helpful to know state of mind/what makes her tick when considering where she is. Deactivated/deleted Instagram is not a good sign though.

If the travel party originated in San Antonio, it's possible they all got into one car to carpool instead of buying flight tickets. But if all four persons were in San Antonio, it'd make more logical sense for them to ask the man in Ohio to fly over to San Antonio instead of all four of them traveling there.

All/mostly speculation, as always.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Travel distance from San Antonio, TX to Columbia, OH is around 1400 miles. 20 hours if by car or a five-hour flight.

She traveled to Columbia, MO, which is 859 miles (still a long distance, but closer than OH.)

 

[SimplyCass]

She traveled to Columbia, MO, which is 859 miles (still a long distance, but closer than OH.)

Ah, my bad. Thank you for the correction.

 

[Unsolved]

Found safe!

Columbia Police report woman found safely