Investigators in the disappearance of 21-year-old Isabella Comas revealed a deeply unsettling detail: her cell phone was deliberately “randomly planted” near a recycling center in Phoenix, approximately 10 miles from where she was last seen. The statement came amid an increasingly urgent investigation into her vanishing on January 11, 2026, in Avondale, Arizona. Comas was last observed leaving a friend’s residence near West Van Buren Street and North 111th Avenue around 3 p.m., driving her red 2011 Hyundai Sonata (Arizona license plate 2EA6LW). She wore a baggy navy-blue shirt, blue pants with a white stripe, and possibly sandals. Standing 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighing about 110 pounds, with brown eyes and distinctive pink hair, Comas had arranged to pick up her friend for work the following day but never appeared. She also failed to report to her own job and became entirely unreachable by phone.

Concern mounted quickly. On January 12, her friend reported her missing after repeated unsuccessful attempts to make contact. By January 13, authorities recovered Comas’ Hyundai Sonata and cell phone near the intersection of 67th Avenue and Indian School Road in Phoenix. The phone’s placement—explicitly described by investigators as “randomly planted”—immediately triggered alarm. Rather than being lost, stolen, or destroyed, the device appeared intentionally positioned to mislead or create distance from any potential crime scene. Combined with the vehicle’s abandonment miles away, these findings strongly suggested foul play and deliberate efforts to obscure her movements.

Surveillance footage released on January 14 captured Comas inside a QuikTrip convenience store, dressed in a white t-shirt with a black logo. The images show her appearing calm and unaware of any immediate threat, making the sudden silence that followed even more disturbing. No additional confirmed sightings have surfaced since that moment.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety activated a Turquoise Alert on January 13, utilizing the state’s emergency notification system for missing endangered adults under 65 when circumstances indicate potential danger and standard protocols prove insufficient. Named in honor of Emily Pike—a missing Indigenous teenager whose remains were tragically discovered earlier in 2025—the Turquoise Alert broadens outreach beyond child-focused Amber Alerts, targeting unexplained disappearances with signs of risk. The alert remains active as of January 19, 2026, urgently requesting public assistance.

The investigation took a dramatic and chilling turn with the arrest of Tommy Rodriguez, 39, Comas’ boyfriend, who was named a person of interest. Rodriguez was taken into custody on January 15 on charges including theft of means of transportation (related to the vehicle), criminal damage, and probation violation. During his initial court appearance, prosecutors presented “strong evidence” linking him to the stolen car and classified him as an “extreme flight risk.” In a moment that stunned the courtroom, Rodriguez broke his silence, stating: “My girlfriend came up missing… I’m not trying to hide amid the investigation.” The second half of the statement—particularly the phrase “I’m not trying to hide”—landed with heavy weight. While he appeared to express concern for Comas and a desire to cooperate, the wording struck many observers as oddly defensive or revealing under the circumstances, fueling intense speculation about what he might have been attempting to preempt or deflect.

Rodriguez’s criminal history has significantly heightened concern. Court records show he was convicted at age 15 of fatally shooting a man during a robbery, serving an 18-year prison sentence before his release. Subsequent convictions include assault with a weapon and, in 2020, stalking and assaulting an ex-girlfriend. The 2020 stalking charge has drawn particular scrutiny, as it potentially indicates a pattern of obsessive, controlling, or violent behavior that could be relevant to Comas’ disappearance.

Avondale Police Department leads the multi-agency effort in close coordination with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Arizona Department of Public Safety. Detectives have described public tips received so far as “extremely helpful” in advancing the case. No motive has been publicly confirmed, and initial court documents keep specific charges sealed, though they clearly relate to elements of the disappearance probe. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information to contact them immediately, emphasizing the time-sensitive nature given the suspicious circumstances.

The “randomly planted” phone remains one of the most disturbing pieces of evidence. The intentional placement—rather than accidental loss—implies someone deliberately wanted to separate Comas’ last known location from any potential crime scene. Paired with the vehicle’s abandonment 10 miles away, these actions suggest premeditation or an attempt to cover tracks rather than a spontaneous event.

Rodriguez’s courtroom statement—“I’m not trying to hide amid the investigation”—has become a focal point of public discussion. While he framed it as reassurance, the phrasing has struck many as incongruous given the gravity of the situation and his documented history. Prosecutors highlighted his flight risk, noting his past and the seriousness of the circumstances. Whether the admission was a genuine expression of concern, an attempt to appear cooperative, or an involuntary slip remains unclear, but it has kept intense scrutiny on him.

The broader significance of the Turquoise Alert lies in its ability to mobilize rapid community awareness for vulnerable missing adults. Unlike Amber Alerts, which require evidence of child abduction, Turquoise Alerts activate when endangerment appears likely but details remain unclear—allowing broader public engagement without stricter criteria. Its use here reflects investigators’ assessment that Comas may be in immediate peril.

The Phoenix-area community has responded with widespread concern and solidarity. Social media overflows with shared flyers, photos of Comas’ bright pink hair and warm smile, and urgent pleas for information. Friends describe her as outgoing, dependable, and full of life, making her sudden silence deeply out of character. The failure to follow through on routine plans—picking up her friend for work—served as the initial trigger for reporting her missing.

As the investigation enters its second week, pressure continues to build. Detectives are analyzing surveillance, following leads, and examining Rodriguez’s movements, communications, and associations. The sealed nature of charges limits public knowledge, yet the flight-risk designation and documented history of violence keep concern elevated. Whether Comas left voluntarily, met with harm, or was taken against her will remains unknown, but the combination of her abrupt disappearance, strategically abandoned property, Rodriguez’s background, and his courtroom statement fuels fears of the worst possible outcome.

The Turquoise Alert continues to serve as both a call for help and a beacon of hope. Every shared post, every remembered detail, every potential sighting could prove decisive. Isabella Comas remains missing, her absence a painful void felt by family, friends, and an entire community desperate for answers. In the relentless desert heat of Avondale and Phoenix, the search persists—driven by urgency, sustained by public awareness, and anchored in the desperate hope that she will be found alive and safe.