An exhaustive search for a Texas teen who vanished outside her home on Christmas Eve came to a tragic end when authorities found the girl dead.

Camila Mendoza Olmos, 19, was last seen leaving her house in San Antonio for her regular morning walk. After a search that lasted for an entire week, officials discovered her body and ruled her death to be suicide.

The tragic discovery came after local authorities released dashcam video that they said might show the missing woman walking near her home.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told a news conference that he couldn’t say for certain it was her, but the person’s clothing in the video “certainly does match up with what she was wearing”.

Bexar County Sheriff’s Office

Salazar said authorities were looking into all potential scenarios in their search, adding that the sheriff’s department was working with the FBI on the case.

“We’ve got to consider all possibilities from disappearing wilfully to the possibility of self-harm, to somebody may have taken her,” Salazar said.

On Wednesday, Salazar said her body was discovered in a field of tall grass, along with signs of self-harm. She had been “going through a tough time”, he said, adding that there were no signs of foul play.

He also noted that authorities had been looking for a relative’s firearm that had gone missing, and that a gun was found near her body.

The teen’s parents had told reporters that they were holding out hope she would be found.

“I miss her, come home,” her father Alfoso Mendoza told CBS Mornings, adding that he has been “praying to God” since she disappeared. “I might sound strong…but it hurts.”

Her mother also told CBS, the BBC’s US media partner, on Sunday that “we are hopeful everyday”.

“At times we are broken but we are staying strong because my daughter is missing and we don’t know where she is at,” she said in Spanish.

Police previously released video believed to be of Mendoza Olmos recorded the day she disappeared. That footage showed a woman searching in the back of her car for an unknown item, the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities had believed that she then walked somewhere on foot, leaving her car behind. They were concerned that she left without her phone, which was unusual.

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Unverified Claims Circulate Amid Grief Over Camila Mendoza Olmos’ Tragic Death

Content Warning: This article discusses suicide and mental health issues. Resources are available 24/7 via the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Social media posts have recently alleged that the family of 19-year-old Camila Mendoza Olmos shared with police that her last words were “leave me alone,” a phrase now haunting them, alongside claims of a “last note” discovered at the scene following neighbor interviews and investigative records. However, as of January 4, 2026, no mainstream news outlets or official statements confirm these details. Extensive reporting from sources like KSAT, ABC News, Fox News, BBC, and the San Antonio Express-News make no mention of such words, a note, or related regrets tied to investigative records.

Camila Mendoza Olmos disappeared from her northwest Bexar County home in the Wildhorse subdivision on Christmas Eve morning, December 24, 2025. Her mother, Rosario Olmos, shared a bed with her that night and noted Camila often took early walks. Surveillance from a neighbor’s camera showed her rummaging through her car around 6:58 a.m. before walking away, leaving her cellphone charging—an unusual detail for the family.

A week-long search involving the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), FBI, and volunteers ended tragically on December 30 when her body was found in tall grass approximately 100-250 yards from home, behind a landscaping business on FM 1560. The Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide by gunshot wound to the head on December 31, with a firearm recovered nearby matching a missing family member’s gun. No foul play was suspected.

Sheriff Javier Salazar noted indicators of undiagnosed depression and prior suicidal ideations, alongside stressors like a recent major change at Northwest Vista College (from orthodontics to business), academic struggles, a mutual breakup, and work challenges. Camila’s father, Alfonso Mendoza, mentioned she had lost weight and felt “low.” Her mother observed depression tied to studies but hoped to find her walking as usual.

The only publicly documented family words post-tragedy come from a New Year’s Eve statement by aunt Nancy Olmos: “Our beloved Camila Mendoza Olmos is now with the Good Lord,” expressing gratitude for support and requesting prayers for Rosario and brother Carlos. No references to “leave me alone,” haunting regrets, or a note appear in official releases or interviews.

One account described Rosario repeating “So close to home” in shock upon the discovery’s proximity, highlighting the irony and pain. Community vigils, balloon releases, and memorials in early January 2026 honored Camila, a bright student with family ties in Southern California.

The tragedy tripled calls to San Antonio mental health hotlines, underscoring its impact. Friends remembered her as compassionate and joyful.

Unsubstantiated claims may arise from misinformation during the intense search, when speculation was rife. Official sources consistently affirm the suicide ruling without mention of notes or specific last words beyond family pleas like Alfonso’s “I miss her, come home.”

Camila’s story emphasizes hidden struggles and the need for open support. Her family’s faith-centered message endures as a call for compassion.