Tara Calico, a 19-year-old University of New Mexico student, disappeared on September 20, 1988, while on her routine 36-mile bike ride near her home in Belen, New Mexico. She left her house around 9:30 a.m., riding her mother’s pink Huffy bike along Highway 47. Despite plans to return home by noon, she never arrived, prompting her mother, Patty Doel, to begin searching for her shortly after.
Evidence later found along the route, including part of Tara's Walkman and a cassette tape, suggested she may have deliberately dropped these items to leave a trail.
The case gained national attention nearly a year later when a mysterious Polaroid photograph was found in Port St. Joe, Florida. The photo depicted a young woman and a boy, both bound and gagged in the back of a van. The woman in the photo bore a striking resemblance to Tara, and certain details, such as a scar and a favorite book seen in the picture, convinced her family that it could be her. However, experts, including the FBI, could not conclusively determine whether the woman was Tara.
Over the years, various theories have emerged. In 2008, a sheriff from Valencia County claimed to know that two teenage boys accidentally hit Tara with their vehicle and subsequently covered up her death. Despite this claim, no arrests have been made due to a lack of physical evidence, such as her body.
Tara’s case remains unsolved, but renewed efforts, including a task force in 2013 and a 2023 update from law enforcement, suggest that there may be hope for resolution. The FBI continues to offer a reward for information leading to her whereabouts or the arrest of those responsible. Tara’s disappearance remains one of the most well-known and haunting unsolved cases from New Mexico.Last Seen: Sep 20, 1988
