A family member is giving thanks to everyone who helped in the search for Camila Mendoza Olmos — and asking for prayers after the missing teen was found dead.
“In the name of the Olmos family, we want to give a humble and heartfelt thank you to all the news reporters, police detectives, FBI, churches, friends, family and many other communities for your support and prayers,” wrote Nancy Olmos on Facebook of 19-year-old Camila. The teen was reported missing after she left her Texas home on Christmas Eve and was found dead days later in a field near her house. Officials determined the young woman died by suicide. “Our beloved Camila Mendoza Olmos is now with the Good Lord.”
The woman also requested privacy for her grieving family.
“We kindly ask that you please respect our pain and, most importantly, keep my cousin Rosario — Camila’s mom — and my nephew Carlos — Camila’s brother — in your prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” Nancy continued. “Thank you, and God bless you all.”
Camila was last seen leaving her home on Caspian Spring Road in San Antonio on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 24, just before 7 a.m. local time, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said in an initial news alert. Video footage showed a person officials believe was Camila searching her car for something before they believe she left the residence on foot. She was thought to be carrying her car keys and possibly her driver’s license, but nothing else.
The teen’s mom, Rosario, told police that her daughter normally went for morning walks, but she grew concerned on that Christmas Eve when Camila didn’t return, officials said at the time.
In an interview with local outlet KENS, Rosario recalled that she and her daughter had been sleeping when she felt Camila get up from the bed. She told the outlet that 90 minutes later, she woke to find her daughter had vanished.
However, the teenager’s car was still parked at the family home, and she found Camila’s phone left on the bed.
“I put it to charge and went out to look for her,” she told the outlet. “I thought I would find her like other times, walking, and we would come home together.”
Following Camila’s disappearance, a multi-agency search was launched that lasted for days, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told ABC News.
By Tuesday, Dec. 30, the sheriff announced that a body had been discovered by detectives in a field “very close” to Camila’s house. The next day, officials confirmed the deceased was the missing teen.
It was determined that the 19-year-old died by suicide from a gunshot wound to the head, the sheriff’s office said.
“From what has been described to us, it sounds like it was a young person going through a very tough time in their life, going through some emotional issues,” Salazar said on Dec. 30, adding that while Camila had never been formally diagnosed, she did exhibit some “signs of depression.”
Since the family — and the nation — learned of Camila’s fate, tributes and condolences have poured in.
“She was so lovely. Such a joy to be around,” wrote one woman in response to Nancy’s post. “She was truly one of a kind, will be missed by everyone who got the pleasure of meeting her. May Camila Rest In Peace.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.