Body located amid search for missing Texas teen: Sheriff
A dead body was found lying around Search for a Texas teenager The man who went missing on Christmas Eve is identified, authorities said Tuesday.
Camila Mendoza Olmos, 19, was last seen Wednesday morning. Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s deputies and volunteers have been searching for him day and night since then, and there was information that he was in “imminent danger,” according to Sheriff Javier Salazar.
While searching an area Tuesday afternoon, authorities found a body in a field about 100 yards from Mendoza Olmos’ home in northwestern Bexar County, Salazar said.
“We do not suspect foul play at this point,” he said at a news conference.
Bexar County Sheriff’s Office – PHOTO: Camila Mendoza Olmos
Salazar said the body has not yet been officially identified and the cause and manner of death have not yet been determined by the local medical examiner.
“We hope we can try to expedite this process so we can get community responses,” he said.
Salazar noted that there are some indicators of self-harm.
Salazar said a firearm was found where the body was found. Mendoza said a firearm belonging to Olmos’ relative was missing. Authorities said they have not yet determined whether the missing firearm matches the gun observed at the scene.
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Salazar said one of the possibilities investigators are considering in the teen’s disappearance is “fear of harming himself,” with some “indicators of suicidal ideation” and signs of undiagnosed depression.
“From what we’ve been told, it seems like he was a young person going through a very difficult time in his life,” he said.
The body was found shortly before 5pm local time on Tuesday, Salazar said. The area had been searched before, but sheriff’s office and FBI officials returned Tuesday, Salazar said. He said the field was covered with tall grass and officials thought it would be useful to check it again.
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The body was found wearing clothing similar to the description Mendoza Olmos may have been wearing when she disappeared, Salazar said.
“This is definitely not the outcome we were hoping for,” he said.
During their search for the teenager, authorities released dashcam video of someone passing a woman walking alone on her way to work on Wednesday morning this week. It is still unclear whether that person is Mendoza Olmos, Salazar said Tuesday.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text the national lifeline at 988.
