‘Eternally grateful to have crossed lifetimes’: Friend remembers 19-year-old Camila Mendoza Olmos
Ava Martinez encourages reaching out more to friends and loved ones
BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – After authorities confirmed the death of Camila Mendoza Olmos, a friend remembered the 19-year-old as a light in her life and others.
Ava Martinez said she met Mendoza Olmos in 2020 at a mutual friend’s party.
“We kind of just like got along, started dancing,” she said. “We became friends like instantaneously.”
Martinez said she, like many others, are holding tight to memories as they now have to cope with the realization that Mendoza Olmos is no longer here.
She described her friend as having an inner light that instantly drew people to her, and said Mendoza Olmos was a person that friends could reach out to when they needed someone.
“Her passion, I believe, was making people feel loved,” Martinez said. “If you were down, she would meet you where you’re at and then bring you up.”
She said Mendoza Olmos was strong and knew how to stand up for herself, her family and her friends.
Martinez said she had talked with Mendoza Olmos about recent disappointments but thought they were holding to the belief that the future would bring better things.
“I would relate to her, you know like it’s good to have a friend that’s relatable going through similar things, school, boyfriends all that,” Martinez said. “And so when we would speak about that. I thought it was a common understanding that we were going to get through it together, like we always do.”
Martinez said Mendoza Olmos’ strength to protect others may have hidden signs that she needed a little more help.
Martinez said she invited Mendoza Olmos to a New Year’s Eve celebration, but it never entered her mind that her friend would not see the new year with her.
Reflecting on times with Mendoza Olmos, Martinez said she is committing to and encouraging others to be a little extra when it comes to connecting with family and friends.
For her, she said that means showing up at the house more, calling until you get the person on the phone, texting more or hanging out a little longer.
“It is super hard for kids my age to reach out and to ask for help, because they’re like, ’I don’t think they like me anymore. We haven’t talked in X number of months,’” Martinez said. “It’s like, just reach out man, we’re all human. I think that’s what I’m going to take moving forward.”
In her journey to heal, Martinez has begun writing parting words to Mendoza Olmos to express how much she loved her and will miss her.
She ended her writing with, “Eternally grateful to have crossed lifetimes with you and being able to be called your friend is an honor. I will miss you longer than I will have known you, Cami. Wait patiently for us and may your soul rest in peace.”
No Credible Evidence for Latest Rumors in Camila “Cami” Mendoza Olmos Case — Claims of Heated Argument, Cheating Allegations, and Despairing Quote Remain Unsubstantiated
As the San Antonio community gathers today, January 3, 2026, for a heartfelt balloon release and celebration of life honoring Camila “Cami” Mendoza Olmos, persistent online rumors continue to spread unsubstantiated claims. The latest assertions — suggesting Cami had a heated argument with her ex-boyfriend 36 hours before disappearing over alleged cheating, broke down saying “I can’t live like this anymore,” and that police are reevaluating timelines — find no support in credible reporting or official statements.
Authorities have maintained since December 31, 2025, that Cami’s death was a suicide by gunshot wound to the head, with no evidence of foul play. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar highlighted indicators of undiagnosed depression and prior suicidal ideations, noting a recent mutual breakup but emphasizing full cooperation from those close to her, including her ex-boyfriend Nathan Gonzales, who actively participated in search efforts.
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Cami, a 19-year-old Northwest Vista College student aspiring to be an orthodontist, was last seen on home surveillance December 24, 2025, leaving in pajamas for what her mother Rosario Olmos believed was a routine walk — leaving her phone behind. Her body was found December 30 in tall grass near a landscaping property just hundreds of yards from home, an area revisited due to dense brush.
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Her separated parents, Rosario and Alfonso Mendoza, endured days of anguish, with the family dismissing early misinformation about the ex-boyfriend.
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Friends like Ava Martinez remembered Cami as an eternal light: “Eternally grateful to have crossed lifetimes with you.” The tragedy has spurred action — calls to local mental health helplines tripled, and the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation dedicated a memorial tree to Cami, the first for a gun-related suicide victim.
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Today’s event at Wildhorse Sports Park from 5-8 p.m., with a balloon release at 6 p.m., invites the public to celebrate her joyful spirit.
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In a family statement via aunt Nancy Olmos: “Our beloved Camila Mendoza Olmos is now with the Good Lord.” They thanked supporters and requested privacy.
While misinformation proliferates online, focus remains on mental health awareness and honoring Cami’s memory. Resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offer 24/7 support.
Cami’s legacy endures as a reminder of kindness and the need for compassion — her community chooses healing over speculation.
