Police Search for 21-Year-Old Santa Ana Woman Last Seen on Trip to Tijuana
Search Underway for Missing Santa Ana Woman After Trip to Mexico
Santa Ana detectives are appealing to the public for assistance in locating 21-year-old Yasmin Benitez, who vanished after a day trip to Mexico earlier this month. Benitez left her home on March 15 with her brother to visit family and was expected to return later that day.
Benitez, a mother of a four-year-old girl, was reported missing by her boyfriend’s family on March 18. According to her roommate, Agripina Gonzalez, Benitez would never abandon her daughter. "Oftentimes, she’s asking, ‘Why is my mom not here?’ All I want is her mom to come back so she can return to her daughter," Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez recounted a phone conversation with Benitez’s brother on Sunday evening, during which he claimed his sister was at the dentist. However, after her expected return, concerns grew, prompting the missing person’s report.
Natalie Garcia, a public information officer for the Santa Ana Police Department, described the situation as unusual. "She would never go to TJ for any reason… she seemed very happy, left her residence, didn’t take anything with her, so it’s very unusual she would just leave and never come back," Garcia stated. The police department has initiated a search, canvassing the area and reaching out to family members.
In the meantime, Benitez’s daughter is currently in the custody of child protective services. The Santa Ana Police Department has also posted information about the case on social media, including a photo of Benitez, in hopes of generating leads in the search.
