“SHE ALWAYS TAKES HER PHONE”: FAMILY SPEAKS ABOUT CAMILA MENDOZA OLMOS Friends insist Camila Mendoza Olmos never left home without her phone, yet on the morning of December 24th, the device was found switched off in her bedroom. Her mother said that what was found in the drawer alone was enough to convince her daughter that she didn’t leave on her own… 👇

Missing Teen Camila Mendoza Olmos in ‘Imminent Danger,' Sheriff Says

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Missing 19-year-old Camila Mendoza Olmos believed to be ‘in imminent danger,' Texas sheriff says

In a quiet suburban neighborhood in northwest Bexar County, Texas, what began as a routine Christmas Eve morning has spiraled into a heartbreaking mystery. Nineteen-year-old Camila Mendoza Olmos vanished without a trace on December 24, 2025, leaving behind her cellphone—switched off—in her bedroom. Friends and family insist that Camila, a vibrant college student known for her deep faith and close-knit relationships, “always takes her phone” wherever she goes, especially on her habitual morning walks. This single detail has fueled growing alarm, convincing loved ones that her disappearance was not voluntary.

As of December 30, 2025, the search for Camila continues relentlessly, involving local law enforcement, the FBI, volunteers, and a distraught community. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar has classified her as being in “imminent danger,” activating a CLEAR Alert—a Texas notification system reserved for cases involving potential abduction or severe risk. With no confirmed sightings since surveillance footage captured her near her vehicle just before 7 a.m., questions swirl: Did Camila leave on her own amid personal struggles? Was she a victim of foul play in an area flagged as a human trafficking corridor? Or is there another explanation for her sudden absence?

A Typical Morning Turns Tragic

Camila Mendoza Olmos, a 19-year-old student at Northwest Vista Community College, shared a bed with her mother, Rosario Olmos, on the night of December 23. Early the next morning, around 6:58 a.m., Rosario felt her daughter get up but thought nothing of it—Camila often embarked on early walks to clear her mind or exercise. “She normally goes for a morning walk,” Rosario later told authorities, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office (BCSO).

When Camila didn't return after an hour and a half, Rosario grew concerned. She tried calling her daughter's phone, only to discover it powered off in the bedroom—sometimes described as on the bed or in a drawer. Charging it briefly, Rosario searched the neighborhood, expecting to spot Camila strolling as usual. But there was no sign of her. Camila's car remained parked in the driveway, and aside from her car keys (and possibly her driver's license), she appeared to have taken nothing.

Neighbor surveillance footage, from a Ring camera, shows a figure believed to be Camila outside her home on the 11000 block of Caspian Spring. She is seen searching inside her vehicle for an unidentified item before the motion detection ends. After that, nothing. No further movement, no departure in the car, and no trace on foot.

Rosario contacted Camila's boyfriend and father, Alfonso Mendoza, neither of whom had heard from her. By midday on Christmas Eve, she reported her missing to the BCSO.

“She Always Takes Her Phone”: The Detail That Raised Alarms

The most puzzling—and alarming—aspect of Camila's disappearance is her abandoned cellphone. Friends and family have repeatedly emphasized this point in interviews and social media pleas.

“We’ll always be on the phone together when she walks,” her childhood best friend, Camila Estrella, told local media. Estrella recounted their last conversation on December 23, where they made plans to go shopping for a special outfit. “It's just not Cami,” said Camila's aunt, Nancy Olmos, echoing the sentiment that leaving without her phone was utterly out of character.

Another close friend, Isabela, described the disappearance as “very out of the norm.” Family members note that Camila was active on social media, deeply religious (having recently been baptized), and always stayed connected. “She’s the kind of person who stalks us, makes sure her phone’s always charged,” one relative shared.

Sheriff Salazar has called leaving the phone behind “highly unusual,” contributing to the decision to issue a CLEAR Alert. In Texas, this alert requires evidence of imminent danger or involuntary disappearance, such as abduction.

Camila was last seen wearing a black North Face hoodie with baby blue accents (or described variably as a baby-blue and black hoodie), baby blue pajama bottoms or shorts, and white shoes. Standing 5'4″ tall and weighing about 110-125 pounds, with long dark or light brown wavy hair and brown eyes, she is recognizable to those who know her warm, loving personality.

Family's Heart-Wrenching Pleas and Community Mobilization

The Olmos-Mendoza family has been vocal and proactive. Rosario Olmos, in emotional interviews, has pleaded: “I only ask God to please bring her back home.” She spent Christmas Day searching with relatives, turning what should have been a joyful holiday into one of anguish.

Alfonso Mendoza, Camila's father, traveled from California to join the effort. “Please come home… Daddy’s missing you,” he said in a direct appeal. Brother Carlos Mendoza rushed back upon hearing the news, and dozens of relatives and friends have scoured the area.

Volunteers have set up search stations, such as at Wildhorse HOA Sports Park, combing brush, fields, and neighborhoods within a several-mile radius. Drones, K-9 units, and ground teams from the BCSO have been deployed around the clock. Nonprofits have offered rewards, and social media campaigns urge sharing her photo and details.

Aunt Nancy Olmos posted: “We are still searching for my sweet angel, my niece, Camila Mendoza Olmos, 19 years old… We believe in God's protection, and we have faith that Camila will come home.” Prayer vigils and gatherings, like one at Ambassadors Coffee, have brought the community together.

Investigation: Mental Health Concerns and No Signs of Foul Play—Yet

Sheriff Javier Salazar has been transparent, noting that Camila recently experienced a mutual romantic breakup and was dealing with depression. “Problems seem a lot bigger when you’re at that age,” he told reporters. Authorities have revealed a history of suicidal ideation, leading to concerns that mental health may play a role.

“Nothing has occurred that can’t be fixed,” Salazar said in a message aimed at Camila, should she see it. He emphasized available help and urged her to reach out.

However, investigators are not ruling out foul play. The northwest Bexar County area is known as a human trafficking corridor, prompting FBI assistance and Department of Homeland Security monitoring of borders and travel. Kidnapping remains a possibility, though no evidence has surfaced.

Everyone close to Camila—ex-boyfriend, family, friends—is cooperating fully, and no “nefarious” involvement is suspected in the breakup. Rumors of ICE detention were quickly debunked; Camila is a U.S. citizen.

Searches have covered square miles with drones and technology, but the ground effort is limited by terrain. As days pass without leads, frustration mounts.

A Community Holds Its Breath

Camila is described as fun-loving, church-going, and full of love. Friends paint her as someone who puts others first, deeply faithful, and inseparable from her phone—a lifeline in today's world.

As the new year approaches, the search intensifies. The BCSO urges anyone with information to call (210) 335-6000 or email [email protected]. Tips can be anonymous.

In the words of her mother: “Pray and ask from the heart to God… that my daughter returns home.” The family clings to hope, refusing to give up on bringing Camila back.

This case underscores the fragility of life and the devastating impact of missing persons incidents, especially during holidays. As volunteers brave the cold and authorities work tirelessly, one question lingers: Where is Camila Mendoza Olmos?