Missing: Tara Calico

Tara Leigh Calico was born on February 28, 1969. She disappeared near her home in Belen, New Mexico on September 20, 1988. Her case, believed to be a kidnapping, received extensive coverage on A Current Affair , Unsolved Mysteries, and America's Most Wanted. It was also profiled on The Oprah Winfrey Show and 48 Hours.

Disappearance

Calico left her house on Brugg Street in Belen, New Mexico to go on a bike ride at 09:30 on the morning of September 20, 1988. She took her mother's bike because her own was damaged. She was last seen riding her mother's neon pink Huffy mountain bicycle with yellow control cables and sidewalls on Highway 47 in Valencia County, at approximately 11:45 a.m. Calico biked the route daily during her routine 36-mile ride. Around 11:45, witnesses observed a 1953 Ford pickup truck, dirty white or light gray -in color, with a white homemade shell, following Tara, who was wearing headphones, down the unpopulated stretch of highway where she was riding, but no one saw the abduction. The bike, a pink Huffy, has never been found. She was 2 miles from home at the time of the sighting. The small, cracked plastic window of the Sony Walkman was recovered 19 miles east of N.M. 47 near the remote John F. Kennedy campground. Calico's mother believes that her daughter deliberately discarded the items as a way to mark her trail. Detectives also identified bike tracks on the north side of the shoulder of N.M. 47, near the place the cassette tape was found, where a scuffle might have taken place.

The Picture

On June 15, 1989, a Polaroid photo of an unidentified young girl and boy, both bound and gagged, was found in the parking lot of a convenience store in Port St. Joe, Florida. It was theorized that the girl in the photo was Tara and that the boy was Michael Henley, also of New Mexico, who had disappeared in April 1988. The book that is next to the girl in the photo is the gothic horror novel "My Sweet Audrina" by V.C. Andrews, which was published in 1982. According to investigators, the picture had to have been taken after May 1989 because the particular film used in the photograph was not available until then. Despite much conjecture, the identification of the boy in the photograph as Michael Henley seems unlikely because his remains were discovered in 1990 in the Zuni Mountains where he had disappeared. (Foul play is not suspected in his death.) The Zuni mountains are about 75 miles from where Tara disappeared. Nonetheless, her mother believed the girl in the photo was indeed her daughter due in part to what appeared to be a scar on the girl's leg, similar to one Tara received in a car accident. However, the FBI was unable to conclusively prove that it was Tara in the photograph.

Twenty years after her disappearance, Rene Rivera, sheriff of Valencia County announced that he knew what happened to Tara Calico. According to Rivera, boys who knew her from school drove up behind her in a truck and some form of accident followed. Tara later died and those responsible covered up the crime. Rivera states he knows the names of those involved, but that, without a body, he cannot make a case. He has not released whatever evidence has led him to this conclusion. No arrests have been made and the case remains open.

Tara Leigh Calico would today be 42 years old.

Link: Charley Project: Tara Leigh Calico

So what do you guys think ?? You think she was kidnapped or accidentally killed ?? I'm not convinced that the sheriff's story is true.

And what about the picture found in 1989 ?? Do you believe Tara is the girl on the photograph ??

This is the picture found in 1989:

This is a picture of Tara:

Quite frankly I'm not sure what to believe. I feel that Tara could possibly be the girl on the picture, however I'm not convinced. And who is the little boy ?? Well me and another member of this forum, DeAnna, believe that the boy might be David Michael Borer, a boy who disappeared in 1989. He's still missing.Charley Project: David Michael Borer

This is the Unsolved Mysteries segment about the case:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyTsr_2kmbk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63gbw9Ks5h8&feature=related

I'm very confused into what is being asked her, like info overload...but ya I would start somewhere..but I am not sure what you are implicating.

I'm very confused into what is being asked her, like info overload...but ya I would start somewhere..but I am not sure what you are implicating.

What !?

I think it's very clear: Tara Calico is missing since September 20, 1988, nobody have seen her since, somebody claims she was accidentally killed (without having evidences to support his theory), and there's a possibility that she is the girl on the picture found in 1989.

The thread is very clear.

Sorry I haven't posted, slight problem with a stalker... and by that I mean.. What the hell is wrong with people!

Anyways...

I haven't watched the videos yet but after just reading the posts and checking out the links and photos I can say this much. The photo provided that is known that is Tara looks a lot like the photo found in Florida. The nose to me looks the same as do the heavy eyebrows. Obviously the hair color is consistent. The chin is similar but it is hard to tell because of the tape. To be honest, it's quite hard to even look at the photo found in Florida because... I mean wow, it's not like it's a family photo from x-mas. Just gives me chills.

As far as the boy, maybe there is info I don't have, but other than similar dates?? I don't see a connection at first glance. A girl from NM and a boy from Alaska both together in a picture found in FL?

As far as what the sheriff said... I could see someone in his position saying that to ease the mind of a family. The story seems very plausible... Ya know, some kids do something stupid, didn't mean to yada yada. That still doesn't explain a lack of a body though. If that were the case it would seem a body would be found eventually. Besides, plenty of cases are solved without a body. With that in mind I just ain't buying it.

By the way, I ordered that book you recommended today, Jonathan.

Interesting. Never heard of this case before today.

^

the boy was Michael Henley, also of New Mexico

I think it is them in the photos.

The sheriff sounds like someone told him wrong information or some people are lying. Covering up? Who knows? He's not releasing what he knows any time soon.

Strange there's no connection, it seems. Florida? From New Mexico? Sounds like a big risk to take with two abductees tied up in your van.

The picture found in 1989 is really important. If indeed Tara is the girl in the picture then this mean that she was not accidentally killed, and that she was abducted.

I haven't watched the videos yet but after just reading the posts and checking out the links and photos I can say this much. The photo provided that is known that is Tara looks a lot like the photo found in Florida. The nose to me looks the same as do the heavy eyebrows. Obviously the hair color is consistent. The chin is similar but it is hard to tell because of the tape. To be honest, it's quite hard to even look at the photo found in Florida because... I mean wow, it's not like it's a family photo from x-mas. Just gives me chills.

I know, it's a very disturbing picture, it's terrible, I should have said that the pic might be disturbing.

I agree about the nose and the eyebrows, these are definite similarities.

As far as the boy, maybe there is info I don't have, but other than similar dates?? I don't see a connection at first glance. A girl from NM and a boy from Alaska both together in a picture found in FL?

I agree that it's strange to think that a boy living in Alaska and a girl living in New-Mexico would be abducted by the same men. However, in my opinion, when it comes to kidnappings of children we shouldn't let geography ruin any theory. Some "pedophile ring" are famous for abducting children all over the country.

A few months ago me and DeAnna have looked at the possibility that the boy could be David Michael Borer. One morning, before going to work, I decided to call the agency who are currently investigating the case of David. First call I ever made to Alaska, it was a little weird. Anyway I gave a "tip" about the picture found in 1989, told the investigator that the little boy on the picture looked exactly like David. He told me to call back at the end of the week. I did, and another investigator told me that they were looking at the possibility, and that this could be a very interesting lead.

As far as what the sheriff said... I could see someone in his position saying that to ease the mind of a family. The story seems very plausible... Ya know, some kids do something stupid, didn't mean to yada yada. That still doesn't explain a lack of a body though. If that were the case it would seem a body would be found eventually. Besides, plenty of cases are solved without a body. With that in mind I just ain't buying it.

I agree with you about the body, if the story was true I'm sure the kids would have told him where they dumped the body, the story is really strange.

By the way, I ordered that book you recommended today, Jonathan.

Great ! The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes or Encyclopedia of Serial Killers ??

I also recommend: the Encyclopedia of Kidnappings AMAZON.com : The Encyclopedia of Kidnappings

and

The Encyclopedia of International Organized Crime AMAZON.com: The Encyclopedia Of International Organized Crime

The sheriff sounds like someone told him wrong information or some people are lying. Covering up? Who knows? He's not releasing what he knows any time soon.

Strange there's no connection, it seems. Florida? From New Mexico? Sounds like a big risk to take with two abductees tied up in your van.

The sheriff's story is really strange. I have read that he changed parts of the story on many occasions and that he don't want to talk about this case anymore. However I don't know why he would create such a story, he had nothing to gain by doing so. I don'T believe him, however I still don't understand why he would lie about it. Maybe to ease the mind of Tara's family, like Rob said....

I agree about the risk, but we have seen in the past that these abductors would do anything to get what they want, and that abducting children from all over the Country might be a strategy to throw the authorities off.

Jon,

I absolutely believe the little boy is David. I always believe the girl to be Tara Calico, even after the boys admitted to having killed her and there is no reason they shouldn't have found a body. In my opinion, it will always be Tara until the body is found.

I believe that when we were discussing this case and realized that the little boy was David, I found a second female with the same features as Tara. I had never seen her before and if I find her picture again, I will post it here.

To U.M. members, do not let the thought of moving children across country seem too irrational to you. As a child that was abducted in the 70's, I have done a lot of searching and investigating of the subject and have come to the conclusion that these children get relocated many miles away from the abduction sight. I don't believe that many picked up by the pediophile rings in this country very seldom ever get detained close to their home cities.

Back in the 80's, when this photo hit the media, it was the first case that I ever contacted law inforcement about and I told them my story and what had happened to me. I gave them information with names and some of that information was released to the public on one of the major television shows during that was airing at that time.

I strongly believe that the same organization that kidnapped me in 1975 is the same one that abducted Johnny Gosch in the early 80's and Tara and David in the late 1980's. Same motus operandi, children tied up, look to be drugged, and transported by vehicle to a location where they could be stored.

Since this photo appeared months after Tara and David disappeared, I am certain that they were held for auction, auctioned off, then taken to a separate destination to be enslaved, in this case, quite possibly Florida. It is also interesting to know that Port St. Joe Florida where the polaroid was found, sits directly on the Gulf of Mexico with easy access to the Atlantic.

Time is critical in these cases as once the children are moved, it is almost impossible to follow any leads.

I also believe that the Alaska Police hit a dead end on Jons tip about David because too much time had passed and it is not a priority anymore. To many other things going on that need to be investigated.

Jon,

I absolutely believe the little boy is David. I always believe the girl to be Tara Calico, even after the boys admitted to having killed her and there is no reason they shouldn't have found a body. In my opinion, it will always be Tara until the body is found.

I believe that when we were discussing this case and realized that the little boy was David, I found a second female with the same features as Tara. I had never seen her before and if I find her picture again, I will post it here.

I'm also convinced that the boy is David. I'm almost 90% convinced that the girl is Tara. I certainly don't believe the sheriff's story.

I remember the discussion about that other girl: Brenda Kay Green.

In my opinion the girl on the picture looks a lot more like Tara, but I agree that there's similarities between Tara and Brenda. Brenda's nose seems to be similar to the nose of the girl in the picture, so anything is possible.

I also believe that the Alaska Police hit a dead end on Jons tip about David because too much time had passed and it is not a priority anymore. To many other things going on that need to be investigated.

It's exactly what I believe. The first investigator didn't had a clue of what I was talking about when I told him about the Calico case, I even had to spell her last name for him. The second Investigator with who I talked seemed to know a little bit more about the photo found in 1989, but in his opinion the boy in the picture might not be David. I'm thinking of calling the agency one more time, maybe a different investigator will take the call.

Yep Jon, she is the other girl we discussed. I meant to look for her again but was busy trying to make calls.

Did you happen to notice, it looks like there is some sort of a large mark, maybe a scar, that is going down the right leg of the picture of the girl tied up. I wonder if either of the girls had a scar on their leg or if it is just from resting up against something in the vehicle and the skin became indented.

Don't know what it is but I can see it. Can you tell what it is?

Did you happen to notice, it looks like there is some sort of a large mark, maybe a scar, that is going down the right leg of the picture of the girl tied up. I wonder if either of the girls had a scar on their leg or if it is just from resting up against something in the vehicle and the skin became indented.

Don't know what it is but I can see it. Can you tell what it is?

Yep, I saw it too, good point.

It could be a scar, and it's a very good possibility that it happened after the abduction. Both girls, Tara and Brenda, didn't had a such a scar, at least that's what I have read on Charleyproject.org. Brenda's only distinguish characteristic is that she have a scar on her left eyebrow, and it's impossible to tell if the girl in the picture have the same characteristic.

I dont see similarity. She isnt on that polaroid photo.

Why dont they put those (sheriffs) suspects on polygraphs?

One thing I had to tell myself when looking at the photo is that Tara and David had been missing for awhile before the polaroid was found.

A person that is starved and subjected to unmentionable things could very well have their appearance changed a bit, thinner face, darker eyes and drugs can change the eyes too, ungroomed eyebrows, ect.

Jon,

If it is Tara, maybe they were forced to stop her by hitting her bike with the car so she didn't get away from them. It is much easier to catch a person walking than it is one on a bicycle. If she was trying to get away, she could be stopped easily.

I dont see similarity. She isnt on that polaroid photo.

Why dont they put those (sheriffs) suspects on polygraphs?

I see a lot of similarities between Tara and the girl in the picture. Tara was abducted in September of 1988, the picture was taken after may 1989. Like DeAnna said there's a very good probability that her appearance changed between that period, it would be logical. I'm sure she lost a considerable amount of weight, that her appearance was neglected. I'm almost convinced that Tara is the girl in the picture, but I respect your opinion, right now we don't know the answer to this question.

About the Sheriff's story: You are right, the authorities should have given a polygraph to the suspects. The fact we never found the body, and the fact we don't know who these kids are is, to me, proof that the sheriff created the story. Why ?? I still don't know, maybe, like Rob said earlier, to ease the mind of Tara's family.

The sheriff claims that he can't do nothing more ( polygraphs, etc. ) without a body. He also claims that the boys' parents helped to cover the crime. Again, show me the body and I'll believe his story.

Jon,

If it is Tara, maybe they were forced to stop her by hitting her bike with the car so she didn't get away from them. It is much easier to catch a person walking than it is one on a bicycle. If she was trying to get away, she could be stopped easily.

It's a very plausible scenario, De.

I have found this trailer for a documentary about Tara's disappearance. Around the 3:00 mark you can see a police officer explaining the witnesses' acoount of Tara being dead. At the end of the video there's a message from the Sheriff Department, asking for informations about Tara's body. Again, believe what you want, but I really doubt that she was killed. I'm sure the boys would remember where they dumped her body, then bones would have been found in the area. The boys can't remember where the body is, it's really strange to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laj7UX01LAc

In my opinion, the picture right after the polaroid in your video looks the most like that girl. I still think that girl is Tara.

Did the boys that claimed to have killed Tara get any jail time for her murder? Were the names ever released? Did they ever give an explanation why they killed her?

I never heard anything other than they confessed and if any of my above questions can be answered "yes", I would be very surprised.

I'm not trying to highjack your thread Jon, bear with me a second.

Johnny Gosch the Ohio paperboy that came up missing a few years before, eventually escaped to tell his story. Anyway, his mother Noreen Gosch, shortly after his abduction, started a website that I spent years keeping an eye and checking periodically.

They were asking Noreen for a blood test and she refused to give one because she felt that by giving them one, they would fix it so a body was identied as Johnny. She got a phone call telling her that her sons body had been found and it was verified to be him due to dental records. She asked him what tooth it was and it was the wrong tooth. She told him she had the dental records and knew which one it was.

Anyway, long story short, this person told Noreen that it was because someone wanted that case closed. Why? I don't know but Noreen refused to believe it and Johnny eventually escaped and contacted her.

I don't believe she could be conned into thinking someone else was her son. She is a smart woman and honestly believes that Johnny has come back, although she cannot be with him because he is living his life in hiding, she hopes to someday bring him home.

Also, I would like to add, when Johnny came up missing, Noreen hired a private investigator and was told she couldn't do that. Noreen hired him anyway and he was arrested. Why would that be?

The Tara Calico story is another one that I believed officials wanted to close their case. So has anyone heard if they did any jail time, were names released, or did an excuse ever come out as to why she was killed?

Did the boys that claimed to have killed Tara get any jail time for her murder? Were the names ever released? Did they ever give an explanation why they killed her?

I never heard anything other than they confessed and if any of my above questions can be answered "yes", I would be very surprised.

We know nothing about these suspects. The explanation the boys gave to the sherriff is that they drove up behind her in a truck and some form of accident followed. They claims Tara's death was accidental, and that they hided the body somewhere in a deserted area. For some reasons it seems like they forgot where they dumped the body.

The Sherriff claims he knows the names of those involved, but that, without a body, he cannot make a case. He claims that the boys' parents helped them covering the evidences, again without proof. He has not released whatever evidence has led him to this conclusion. No arrests have been made.

If this is true then this Sherriff should have done something about it. He should have recorded the statement of the boys, should have given them polygraph test, should have done something, anything. I know he can't send these boys, who are now men, to jail without evidences, but I feel like he should have done a lot more.

If the story is true: Tara's death happened more than 20 years ago. If all the suspects decide to come clean and can prove that Tara's death was indeed an accident, then I doubt they would even go to jail. I wonder if the sherriff told them that, I wonder if he really pressured them to come clean, if he really tried his best to get a confession from the suspects.

This is if the story is indeed true. I have my doubts.

I've doubted it since I read that there was some sort of accident that killed Tara. I can't imagine why they would be eager to close the case and I don't believe it has anything to do with putting the families mind at rest, especially in the case of Noreen Gosch, who was known to go public and say things about the police department, and particularly about the Sheriff.

Someone definitely wanted that case closed enough to misindentify a body. Doesn't make any sense, unless the sheriff knew who did it, and was coveriing it up for them. Don't know.

I think the timing of this documentary is a little bit strange.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great thing that somebody took the time to do this documentary and to tell Tara's story, it's a story that everybody should know, it's a very important case.

However we still don't know where is Tara's body, and nothing new happened since 2008, so I don't know why they have suddenly decided to do this documentary, when we still have no evidences that the Sheriff's story is true.

I'll write a mail to these people, at taracalico.com, and ask them if the sheriff is credible. I really have my doubts.

I watched the documentary and got into the Tara Calico sight and they made several references to wanting Taras body returned so it could be buried. I still believe she is alive somewhere. Maybe not in the U.S. but somewhere.

I watched the documentary and got into the Tara Calico sight and they made several references to wanting Taras body returned so it could be buried. I still believe she is alive somewhere. Maybe not in the U.S. but somewhere.

You watched the documentary in its entirety or only parts of it ??

I believe she was abducted. I don't know if she is still alive, but I hope her abductors released her after she was "too old" for them and that she was able to move on with her life. But I doubt it happened that way, if it was the case I'm sure she would have tried to contact her family.

I watched the documentary that was on the TaraCalico Site. Don't know if it was the entire or not but I don't think it was.

I don't think they released her yet or she would have gone home. I believe she loved her family.

I'm not sure if you have seen this yet but here is some more information about Tara. It is a definite must see because it has compostite sketches of the suspects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdrNkDO-rwA&feature=player_embedded

Yep, I saw it too, good point.

It could be a scar, and it's a very good possibility that it happened after the abduction. Both girls, Tara and Brenda, didn't had a such a scar, at least that's what I have read on Charleyproject.org. Brenda's only distinguish characteristic is that she have a scar on her left eyebrow, and it's impossible to tell if the girl in the picture have the same characteristic.

Hey Jon,

I just re-read all the posts and I'm not sure how we both missed this fact. In your opening thread, it does state that Tara had a scar on her leg from being in a wreck so it appears that it is probably, most certainly, I'm sure it is Tara.

The mother is also convinced it is her and a mother knows what her children look like. Mine could pick me out of a swimming pool with 20 other kids, with my hair wet, and looking away, she was that good. lol

I'm no expert but I think it looks just like her...

We know nothing about these suspects. The explanation the boys gave to the sherriff is that they drove up behind her in a truck and some form of accident followed. They claims Tara's death was accidental, and that they hided the body somewhere in a deserted area. For some reasons it seems like they forgot where they dumped the body.

The Sherriff claims he knows the names of those involved, but that, without a body, he cannot make a case. He claims that the boys' parents helped them covering the evidences, again without proof. He has not released whatever evidence has led him to this conclusion. No arrests have been made.

If this is true then this Sherriff should have done something about it. He should have recorded the statement of the boys, should have given them polygraph test, should have done something, anything. I know he can't send these boys, who are now men, to jail without evidences, but I feel like he should have done a lot more.

If the story is true: Tara's death happened more than 20 years ago. If all the suspects decide to come clean and can prove that Tara's death was indeed an accident, then I doubt they would even go to jail. I wonder if the sherriff told them that, I wonder if he really pressured them to come clean, if he really tried his best to get a confession from the suspects.

This is if the story is indeed true. I have my doubts.

Jon, I believe that the TaraCalico website has had the Statute of Limitations lifted off this case. Many states have that including Illinois. I called the States Attorneys Office back when I found out my abductor was going up for parole and they informed me that because of my age, the crime, and the fact that they used a gun, I could come foreward anytime and he could be charged for crimes committed to me back then and go back to prison.

So if they do find out what happened to Tara and that she was killed, they could very well be charged. There was nothing mentioned on the site about accidental death.

The thing is, we would have to figure out the definition of accident.

If accident means it was like the Unsolved Mysteries segment where the truck was right on top of her, chasing her, that I believe was observed by witnesses, then I don't believe they should be charged with causing an accidental death, at the least, it should be manslaughter.

To just drop it and do nothing is just goofy unless of course there is more to the story.