Tara Calico: 35 Years Later, New Developments in a Perplexing Case

Tara Leigh Calico born February 28, 1969 was an American woman who mysteriously disappeared near her home in Belen, New Mexico, on September 20, 1988. Tara's disappearance has since become one of the most perplexing missing person cases in American history, primarily due to a disturbing Polaroid photo discovered in 1989, which many believe to show Calico bound and gagged alongside an unidentified boy​

On the day of her disappearance, Calico, known for her regular morning bike rides along New Mexico State Road 47, left home around 9:30 A.M. Previously, her mother, Patty Doel, would accompany her but stopped after feeling stalked by a motorist.

That morning, Tara asked her mother to come looking for her if she wasn't home by noon, as she had plans to play tennis with her boyfriend at 12:30. When Tara didn't return, her mother searched her usual bike route, found nothing, and contacted the police.

Pieces of Tara's Sony Walkman and a cassette tape were later discovered along the road, suggesting she may have tried to leave a trail. Several people reported seeing Tara riding her bicycle that morning, but no one witnessed her presumed abduction. Witnesses did, however, report seeing a light-colored pickup truck with a camper shell following closely behind her​.

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The Polaroid Photo

In June 1989, a chilling Polaroid photo was found in the parking lot of a convenience store in Port St. Joe, Florida. It showed an unidentified young woman and a boy, both gagged with black duct tape and seemingly bound.

The woman who found the photo reported that it was in a parking space where a white windowless Toyota cargo van had been parked. The van was driven by a man in his 30s who has never been identified.

The photo was televised in July, catching the attention of friends of Tara's family who thought the woman resembled Tara. Upon seeing the photo, Tara's mother was "convinced" it was her daughter, noting that a scar on the woman's leg was identical to one Tara had.

However, the photo's analysis produced conflicting results; Scotland Yard believed the woman was Calico, but the Los Alamos National Laboratory disagreed, and the FBI's analysis was inconclusive​​.

In 2009, pictures of a young boy with a black band drawn over his mouth were sent to the Port St. Joe police chief, David Barnes, from Albuquerque, New Mexico. The boy's identity is unknown, but officials believe it may be related to the disappearance of Tara Calico.

Two other Polaroid photographs, possibly of Calico, have been found over the years. The first was a blurry photo of a girl's face with tape over her mouth, found in California in 1989.

The second showed a woman bound in gauze with a male passenger beside her on an Amtrak train and was found in 1990. Calico's mother believed the first was Tara, but the second may have been a hoax.

The photos have been investigated by the FBI for possible DNA evidence or fingerprints.

Recent Developments

After nearly 35 years, a significant development was announced in Tara Calico's case in June 2023. The Valencia County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico held a press conference, announcing substantial evidence had been obtained and would be presented to the district attorney's office for review of potential charges.

The details about the nature of the evidence or possible suspects remain sealed by court order until further notice​​.

Despite these advancements, some individuals close to the investigation have expressed frustration with the handling of the case.

Melinda Esquibel, a filmmaker and podcast host who has been investigating the case for over ten years, voiced concerns about the direction of the Sheriff's Office investigation and alleged that some significant leads were overlooked. Esquibel plans to continue her work to ensure that the truth about Tara Calico's disappearance comes to light.

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References:

35 Years Later: Tara Calico Disappearance

Tara Calico Mystery: The True Story Behind Notorious Polaroid Showing a Girl and Boy Bound in a Van