Cops: Remains found in shallow grave likely teen missing 25 years
DANEVANG, Texas -- Exactly 25 years after she vanished following her shift at a country food store on Nov. 24, 1990, officials in southeast Texas have discovered human remains they believe to be long-missing teen Rosemary Diaz.
"We made a goal, we wanted her home by Christmas, but God had different plans," said Tim Miller, whose search and recovery group EquuSearch aided law enforcement in the search, at a Wednesday press conference. "He wanted her home by Thanksgiving, and on the day she disappeared."
The 15-year-old Diaz was last seen at the country store where she worked near her home in Danevang, about 80 miles southwest of Houston. Her car was found still parked outside the store, but the high school student had "disappeared basically without a trace," Sgt. Scott Grosser, of the Wharton Co. Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.
Grosser said that law enforcement received new tips in the case in recent months which led them to re-open an "active and aggressive" investigation. CBS affiliate KHOU reports a suspect in Diaz's disappearance, now deceased, made several confessions to family members before his death. The family then reportedly relayed that information to law enforcement.
According to EquuSearch, law enforcement contacted the group after narrowing their potential search area to a 60-acre plot outside Danevang. KHOU reports the property -- on the border of Matagorda and Wharton counties -- belongs to the suspect's family, who is cooperating with the investigation.
About two weeks ago, according to Miller, aerial images of the remote, rural terrain pointed to some possible locations of interest. On Monday, according to Equusearch, search crews uncovered human bone fragments. Then, on Tuesday, excavation teams discovered the skeletal remains believed to be Diaz in a shallow grave.
Along with the remains, Grosser said, law enforcement discovered several pieces of evidence including an item of jewelry.
"It was a very emotional experience for both the family and law enforcement," Grosser said.
The remains are awaiting positive identification from forensic investigators. Grosser referred to the case as an abduction, but said he couldn't describe the circumstances of the disappearance or say how Diaz died. Police are continuing to interview sources and review evidence, he said.
"Rosemary Diaz' family has been on a torturous roller coaster of emotional hope and despair for the last 25 years," Equusearch said in a statement posted on its website. "Hopefully, the Diaz family may now have some type of peaceful resolve, and some of their questions might be answered."
