Kimberly Irene Chavez Lopez, a 3-year-old from Oxnard, California, was last seen in June 2015. Her case, which initially raised concerns in July 2016 when Ventura County Children and Family Services (CFS) attempted to check on her well-being, led to a harrowing investigation. Kimberly had been under CFS oversight since birth, as she was born to Mayra Chavez-Lopez, who struggled with drug addiction.
Kimberly had been in and out of foster care and was ultimately placed back with her parents despite numerous red flags, including signs of abuse.
In the summer of 2015, after Kimberly was last seen alive, her parents, Mayra Chavez-Lopez and Omar Lopez, repeatedly misled authorities, claiming that Kimberly was staying with relatives in Mexico. Their deception delayed the investigation, and it wasn’t until September 2016 that police officially listed Kimberly as missing.
Omar Lopez later confessed that Kimberly had died after suffering a head injury at their home in June 2015. Rather than seeking medical help, the parents allegedly buried Kimberly’s body in a shallow grave in Tijuana. They later attempted to destroy her remains using bleach. Despite this confession, Kimberly’s body has never been recovered.
Both parents were charged with second-degree murder in 2018. Mayra Chavez-Lopez was convicted of murder, child abuse, and torture, receiving a lengthy prison sentence. Omar Lopez, who testified against Mayra, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Mayra's mother was also implicated in the cover-up for her role in aiding her daughter's attempt to conceal Kimberly’s death.Last Seen: Jul 1, 2015
