NM NM - Placitas, "Sandoval Star," outside Albuquerque, MultFem 15-30, UP122486, facial reconstruction, April 2023

[sunflowermomma]

Biological Sex: Female
Race / Ethnicity: American Indian / Alaska Native, Uncertain
Estimated Age GroupAdult
Estimated Age Range (Years)21-99
Height: 5' 3"(63 inches), Estimated
Weight: 97 lbs, Estimated

No rule outs in NAMUS at this time.

The decedent was found in a body of water, head submerged in 1-2 ft of water. Some clothing was observed. She was found by a passerby who was walking a dog at ~12:22.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[sunflowermomma]

I'm wondering if this is Angelica Mercado?

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

5'0, 105 lbs, 40 y/o, Hispanic/Latina
"The missing was last known to be in Marina, California in March 2023 with her sixteen year old daughter. The missing reported they were heading to San Francisco to visit someone but it's unknown if they made it to that visit or their whereabouts currently."

 

[sunflowermomma]

Here is approx. where this Doe was found: 35°18'25.1"N 106°25'29.1"W · 35.306972, -106.424750

It says she was found in water but the small creek on the map seems to be dried up, at least at the time google maps was there. It seems like a fairly isolated neighborhood/community. I wonder if they interviewed the people living here.

 

[Goecke]

Here is approx. where this Doe was found: 35°18'25.1"N 106°25'29.1"W · 35.306972, -106.424750

It says she was found in water but the small creek on the map seems to be dried up, at least at the time google maps was there. It seems like a fairly isolated neighborhood/community. I wonder if they interviewed the people living here.

It's most likely an arroyo, which are much more common in NM. They only fill up with water for part of the year.

Also, NamUs says she was burned? I wonder if that's accurate?

 

[ChatteringBirds]

It's most likely an arroyo, which are much more common in NM. They only fill up with water for part of the year.

Also, NamUs says she was burned? I wonder if that's accurate?

How horrible. It.does say that under "Conditions of remains."
I speculate domestic violence and she either wasn't yet reported missing by relatives, because they don't know where she is but think she's "okay," or she was reported missing in a different city or state.

 

[The4TierBridge]

Lots of updated information was released today by the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office as apart of a new appeal for leads to mark the 2nd anniversary of her being found. Here are some of the highlights:

• This woman is of central Mexican, Mesoamerican, and Andean ancestry as shown by genetic testing conducted by the FBI.
• Race has been revised from Native American to Latina/Hispanic.
• Age range revised from 21-99 to 15-30.
• New description of the clothes she was wearing: blue shirt with red stars, black shorts, and a sports bra.
• Height and weight have been slightly reduced from 5’3 and 97 pounds to 5’2 and 95 pounds.
• No noticeable scars, marks, or tattoos.
• Cause of death has been determined but is being withheld as part of the investigation. Her death is believed to be an isolated incident with no danger to the community at large.
• No known suspect at this time.

It seems like whoever is in-charge of the case is trying very hard to get her identified, which is always good to see.

 

[The4TierBridge]

Also, new photos of the crime scene were released (nothing graphic) and police are asking for the people behind graffiti seen on the bridge she was found under to come forward because they may have seen something related to her death/would have a better knowledge of this specific area. They are not suspects in her death.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Lots of updated information was released today by the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office as apart of a new appeal for leads to mark the 2nd anniversary of her being found

Thank you so much for posting this information. Could you please add some links for it and where you found the photos? I was going to ask a mod to update the thread's title but realized we need links first.

 

[The4TierBridge]

Oops! I guess I forgot! Unsolved case in New Mexico: Do you know 'Sandoval Star'?

 

[The4TierBridge]

The police have also given her the nickname “Sandoval Star” because of her shirt. I thought I should write this down here in-case somebody tries to search for her thread by that name.

 

[BrownBear]

1 Exclusion
MP96409 Camille Martinez 05/02/2022 Santa Fe NM

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)