San Antonio, Texas – The week-long search for 19-year-old Camila Mendoza Olmos came to a devastating end on December 30, 2025, when authorities discovered a body in a field just hundreds of yards from her northwest Bexar County home. The young woman had vanished on Christmas Eve morning, leaving her family in agony during what should have been a joyful holiday season.

Camila was last seen around 7 a.m. on December 24, captured on neighbor surveillance footage rummaging through her car outside the family residence in the Wildhorse neighborhood. She appeared to leave on foot for her usual morning walk, wearing a baby blue and black hoodie, matching pajama bottoms, and white shoes. Alarmingly, she left behind her cellphone—turned off—and her vehicle, taking only her car keys. Her mother, Rosario Olmos, grew worried when Camila failed to return, prompting a swift report to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.

The disappearance triggered a massive response, including a CLEAR Alert classifying Camila as in “imminent danger.” Investigators explored multiple scenarios, from voluntary departure to abduction, but concerns quickly centered on her mental health. Camila, a college student who had recently switched majors from orthodontics to business at Northwest Vista College, had been struggling with personal issues, including worries over grades and a mutual breakup. Authorities noted a prior history of suicidal ideation, though her father, Alfonso Mendoza, emphasized she showed no ongoing signs of severe depression.

Dashcam footage released days into the search showed a figure matching Camila’s description walking alone nearby, providing the last potential sighting. Volunteers, family from California, and teams like Texas EquuSearch scoured the area, with drones and cadaver dogs deployed.

On Tuesday afternoon, during a renewed search of a previously checked tall-grass field near a local landscaping business, deputies and FBI agents located the body just 100-250 yards from the Mendoza Olmos home. Clothing matched Camila’s last known outfit, and a firearm—reported missing from a relative—was found at the scene. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar stated it was too early for positive identification, pending medical examiner results, but stressed no evidence of foul play. Indicators pointed toward possible self-harm, aligning with earlier concerns about Camila’s emotional state.

Yet, the family’s grief is compounded by doubt. Camila’s mother, Rosario, has expressed firm belief that her daughter was murdered, rejecting the apparent scene evidence that authorities rely on. The heartbroken family, including aunts, cousins, and siblings who rallied from afar, continues to grapple with the loss of a described “cheerful and educated” young woman who always put others first.

As the medical examiner works to confirm identity and cause of death, the community mourns a promising life cut short. Sheriff Salazar urged awareness of mental health struggles, reminding that young people often face overwhelming challenges. This case serves as a somber reminder of the hidden pains behind smiling faces, especially during the holidays.