Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP17680)
On July 10, 2012, 21-year-old Sandra Bertilia Calderon Lopez was with a group attempting to cross the border on foot near Topawa, Arizona, in Pima County. At some point during the arduous journey, she was unable to continue. The group she was traveling with made the decision to leave her behind in the harsh desert environment. Standing between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet 1 inch tall, with blond or light brown hair and distinctive freckles on her face, Sandra was dressed in black jeans, a black
shirt, and black shoes. The last known information about her came from a man who was with the group; he contacted Sandra's family to inform them that they had only walked for a day before she could go no further.
The circumstances of Sandra's disappearance are distressingly sparse. After the phone call from the man in her group, no further information about her location or condition has ever come to light. The vast and perilous Sonoran Desert, where she was last seen, is a notoriously dangerous area for border crossers due to extreme temperatures and rugged terrain. The Pima County Medical Examiner's Office became the investigating agency in her case, a detail that underscores the serious concerns for her welfare from the outset. Her case was registered with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System under case number MP17680.
Years have passed since Sandra Calderon Lopez was last seen, and her case remains unresolved. The lack of new leads has left her family with unanswered questions and enduring grief. The overview of this case is a somber reflection of the human toll of migration through dangerous corridors. A young woman, in pursuit of a different future, was overcome by the elements and left behind by her companions. The only account of her last known moments came from a single phone call, a fleeting and tragic message that marked the beginning of a long and painful mystery for her loved ones. Her story is a poignant reminder of the many individuals who vanish in the borderlands, their fates often unknown.Last Seen: Jul 10, 2012
