The Girl in the Photo
The Disappearance of Tara Calico
Belen, New Mexico is a quiet town just down the highway from Albuquerque. The residents live there in peace and quiet. It is one of those towns that no one would ever expect to make nationwide news, but, sadly, one Belen family ended up wrapped in a mystery that is still waiting to be solved.
Tara Calico
Tara Calico was a young 19-year-old girl. She was known to be full of life and energy. She was an extrovert and often stayed active. She had a job as a bank teller and was going to school to study psychology. This was a young woman who had her whole life ahead of her until the day everything changed.
On the morning of September 20, 1988, Tara Calico borrowed her mom’s bike to go for a long bike ride. Tara left her home at about 9:30 a.m. and was expected home no later than noon as she planned to play tennis with her boyfriend that afternoon.
Tara Calico never returned home from her bike ride. When her mother, Patty Doel, went looking for her she was unable to find Tara. Patty contacted the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office.
The Investigation
Authorities had very few leads. Tara Calico was last spotted riding her bike on Highway 47 in Valencia County, a common route for her. A witness noticed a light-colored pickup truck…
