A missing girl from Amarillo, Texas has finally been found.
Jessica Delgadillo was 14 years old when her family reported her missing on October 20, 2013. The Amarillo Police Department was notified that she had not returned home from school.
A missing person investigation was started, but due to a lack of leads, the case was eventually turned over to APD's Homicide Division. But APD officials say Jessica's disappearance was “worked diligently by numerous investigators over a 10-year period.”
A major development in Jessica Delgadillo's case came late last year when APD's cold case unit was established. The special unit was formed to tackle a number of missing persons and unsolved murders that had been going on for years.
Read more: These are the unsolved murders in Amarillo, Texas
After forming the unit, investigators asked NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) to assist with three cold cases involving missing children, including Jessica.
NCMEC sent representatives from Team Adam, an auxiliary resource group that “provides rapid on-site assistance to law enforcement and families in critical missing person cases.”
Original Missing Person Information for Jessica Delgadillo (redacted)
With the help of Team Adam, efforts to disseminate information to the public have been revived. These support campaigns published details of the disappearances and photos of the age progression.
Finally, on Thursday, November 2, 2023, investigators received a call from a woman who identified herself as Jessica Delgadillo. She confirmed that the person was aware that she had been reported missing and, after subsequent contact, she submitted a DNA swab for genetic testing. They agreed to send the collection to the University of North Texas.
Several months later, DNA testing confirmed that the woman was indeed Jessica Delgadillo.
According to a release from Corporal. APD's Carmella Ogden, Jessica, requested that her whereabouts and further details of her disappearance not be released.
Two other cold cases besides Jessica were examined by Team Adam and APD's Cold Case Unit, Brandi Noble and Dorrien Thomas.
Updated: 23 people missing in Amarillo, Texas and Texas Panhandle
These are the 25 people missing in the Amarillo area who have yet to be found. Examples range from the latest to the oldest. If you pick up the scroll and recognize any of these missing persons, please contact your local police.
Gallery credits: Sarah Clark, Lori Crawford
