GUILTY TX - Sandy Cervantes, adult, car found burned, Lubbock, Jun 2019, reported missing in Feb 2020

[GuyfromCanada]

The Lubbock Police Department is asking for the public’s help finding Sandy Michelle Cervantes who was last seen or heard from in June 2019.

The investigation into Cervantes' whereabouts began when she was reported missing by her family on February 18, 2020, since it was unlike her to not have contact with her family.

Investigators found that Cervantes' vehicle, a 2006 red Saturn Vue, was found on fire in June 2019 in the 1000 block of Ceasar E Chavez Dr. The arson was investigated by the Lubbock Fire Marshal’s Office. Cervantes' purse was also located in a dumpster in Abernathy and found by individuals who lived nearby. Investigators believe there is a possibility of foul play in her disappearance.

The public is encouraged to share information they have about Cervantes, her possible location, or details regarding her vehicle or purse with Sgt. Justin Anderson at (806) 775-2401.

LPD searching for woman missing since June 2019

This is a very long delay, I wonder how often would Sandy contact her family?

 

[Snoopster]

Regarding the delay, here are better details as to timing and events from the Charley Project page for Sandy.

Sandy Michelle Cervantes – The Charley Project

Cervantes was seen by officers from the Lubbock Police Department during the course of an assist motorist call at 11:11 p.m. on June 20, 2019. She has never been heard from again. On June 22, someone found her purse in a dumpster in Abernathy, Texas. The purse contained Cervantes's debit and credit cards as well as identification. On June 24, her vehicle was found in the 1000 block of Cesar Chavez Drive; both doors were open and it was on fire. It was burned so badly that it was unrecognizable and the police had to identify it by the engine and transmission numbers.

The person who found Cervantes's purse didn't contact the police, but instead tried to find its owner on Facebook groups. Her family saw this person's posts and made contact with them in February 2020, and retrieved the purse. It was only then, on February 18, that they reported her missing.

And here is more specific information about her:

• Missing Since 06/20/2019
• Missing From Lubbock, Texas
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Female
• Race Hispanic
• Date of Birth 08/31/1986 (34)
• Age 32 years old
• Height and Weight 5'0, 150 - 180 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics Hispanic female. Black hair, brown eyes. Cervantes has a tattoo of the name "Ariel Jade" on her right foot; a photo of it is posted with this case summary. She also has a tattoo on her right ear and a tattoo of a mermaid on her back. Her ears are pierced.

I wonder why they didn't do a closer investigation when they found her car on fire. Wouldn't police want to locate the owner to determine if they were alive and unharmed?

 

[indicolite22]

Her fb (nearly empty, last post April 23, 2019): Facebook

Her father died in 2017. She appears to have quite a few relatives.

She was arrested for drug possession in 2017 and 2018:
CERVANTES, SANDY MICHELLE Inmate 2017016408: Lubbock County Jail in City of Lubbock, TX
CERVANTES, SANDY MICHELLE Inmate 2018002135: Lubbock County Jail in City of Lubbock, TX

 

[Snoopster]

<sigh>

It's clear that Sandy was into drugs and this was likely the reason why her family didn't report her missing for so long, and why LE didn't say there was possible foul play.

I'm curious as to whether her family knew that her car had been found on fire. I presume they did, since LE went through the trouble of identifying who the owner was despite extreme fire damage. But, did LE drop their search effort once they figured out that she was a drug user? Did they 'dismiss' the case because her family said they didn't hear from her regularly?

These women are at so much risk.

So, did Sandy burn her own car a couple of days after being 'assisted' by LE? I doubt it.
Did she want to disappear because she was afraid of future charges, and with her record she was likely in line for a long sentence? (Three strikes and you're out.) Possible.
Did she throw her purse away in a dumpster? I highly doubt it.

I fear that something terrible happened to this woman. She was vulnerable. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Snoopster]

I find it curious that Sandy's purse was found in Abernathy. Abernathy is half in Lubbock County and half in Hale County. Did someone ditch it there, just across the county line, hoping that LE in Lubbock County wouldn't find out?

 

[CastlesBurning]

New details emerge about circumstances of Lubbock woman’s 2019 disappearance

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - The Lubbock Police Department has now been able to connect a few dots about the disappearance of Sandy Michelle Cervantes who was last seen in June of 2019 but not reported missing until February of 2020. However, the investigation has come to a point where the public’s help is needed.

“Our investigators did an extensive amount of following leads and different investigative things to try to find Ms. Cervantes,” Public Information Officer Allison Matherly said. “Unfortunately, at this point, we’ve really come up a little short and we’re looking for further leads to investigate that will, hopefully, help us find her safe.”

While police seek new tips, additional police and investigative documents are revealing more about the timeline and circumstances surrounding the 33-year-old’s disappearance.

 

[Snoopster]

New details emerge about circumstances of Lubbock woman’s 2019 disappearance

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - The Lubbock Police Department has now been able to connect a few dots about the disappearance of Sandy Michelle Cervantes who was last seen in June of 2019 but not reported missing until February of 2020. However, the investigation has come to a point where the public’s help is needed.

“Our investigators did an extensive amount of following leads and different investigative things to try to find Ms. Cervantes,” Public Information Officer Allison Matherly said. “Unfortunately, at this point, we’ve really come up a little short and we’re looking for further leads to investigate that will, hopefully, help us find her safe.”

While police seek new tips, additional police and investigative documents are revealing more about the timeline and circumstances surrounding the 33-year-old’s disappearance.

Thanks for posting this.

Further, and I'm not feeling optimistic that they will solve this case...

“There’s not something specific that leads us to believe that there is foul play, but the totality of the circumstances at this point does have us concerned that that is the case,” Matherly told KCBD.

According to the missing person police report, family went to Cervantes' apartment and it was empty. They also told police she was “hanging around bad people" and also seeing someone who lived near where the vehicle was found.

Hopefully LE will get a critical tip to help move their investigation forward.

 

[mlhenn]

Sandy Michelle Cervantes – The Charley Project

Updated

 

[Snoopster]

I'm thinking about you Sandy. I hope beyond hope that you are safe.
Your life may not have been perfect, but who of us have had perfect lives. Please reach out to a trusted person (or law enforcement) to let them know that you are safe.

<hugs> from a stranger

 

[YaYa_521]

“Nobody seems to care that she’s missing,” says friend of young mother who disappeared in June 2019 | KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com
Posted: Oct 20, 2020 / 09:43 PM CDT / Updated: Oct 20, 2020 / 10:00 PM CDT
Snipped
She first realized her friend was missing after Cervantes didn’t show up for Horton’s son’s birthday party — an event she never missed. Then, the second red flag was that she wasn’t able to reach Cervantes by phone or by social media for weeks. However, it was when Horton realized that Cervantes had left her kids at home that she knew something bad must have happened.

Horton added that two other cousins of hers, Zoe Campos and Mark Ysasaga, also went missing and then were later found dead — a fate from which she hopes her friend is spared.

Found Deceased - TX - Zoe Campos, 18, Lubbock, 17 Nov 2013 *Arrest*
GUILTY - TX - Mark Ysasaga, 15, Lubbock, 13 June 2012

 

[Sunrisenow]

Remains found in Hockley County identified as missing Lubbock woman | KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com

The following is a press release from the Lubbock Police Department. Skeletal remains found on April 14, 2020, in an abandoned house in Hockley County, have been identified as missing person Sandy Cervantes, who was last seen or heard from in June 2019.

Cervantes was identified by a forensic odontologist comparing Cervantes’ dental records to the teeth of the remains.

 

[YaYa_521]

Rest in peace, Sandy. I hope justice is served quickly, if warranted.

Hockley County remains identified as Lubbock woman missing since 2019
LPD says this case is still under investigation by the Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Line at (806) 741-1000. Crime Line callers may remain anonymous.

 

[evilwise]

Wow it seems like there is a very active and relatively unpoliced Lubbock drug scene.

 

[Nancy19XX]

Wow it seems like there is a very active and relatively unpoliced Lubbock drug scene.

OT but I feel Texas in general has had a spike in cases. MOO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The following is a press release from the Lubbock Police Department. Skeletal remains found on April 14, 2020, in an abandoned house in Hockley County, have been identified as missing person Sandy Cervantes, who was last seen or heard from in June 2019.

Cervantes was identified by a forensic odontologist comparing Cervantes’ dental records to the teeth of the remains.
“Nobody seems to care that she’s missing,” says friend of young mother who disappeared in June 2019 | KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com


Originally, the investigation into Cervantes’ whereabouts began when she was reported missing by her family on February 18, 2020, since it was unlike her to not have contact with her family.

Investigators found Cervantes’ vehicle, a 2006 red Saturn Vue, on fire in June 2019 in the 1000 block of Cesar E Chavez Dr. The arson was investigated by the Lubbock Fire Marshal’s Office. Cervantes’ purse was also located in a dumpster in Abernathy and found by individuals who lived nearby.

This case is under investigation by the Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Line at (806) 741-1000. Crime Line callers may remain anonymous.
Remains found in Hockley County identified as missing Lubbock woman | KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com

 

[GuyfromCanada]

LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) - Two warrants have been served in the 2019 missing-person-turned-homicide case of Sandy Cervantes.

A capital murder warrant was served to 32-year-old Brandon Jay Cruz and an aggravated robbery warrant was served to 28-year-old Paublo Reyes. Both Cruz and Reyes were booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center for previous charges.

2 arrested in 2019 missing-person-turned-homicide case of Sandy Cervantes

 

[cvaldez1975]

LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) - Two warrants have been served in the 2019 missing-person-turned-homicide case of Sandy Cervantes.

A capital murder warrant was served to 32-year-old Brandon Jay Cruz and an aggravated robbery warrant was served to 28-year-old Paublo Reyes. Both Cruz and Reyes were booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center for previous charges.

2 arrested in 2019 missing-person-turned-homicide case of Sandy Cervantes

wow.... did she even know these guys? how sad that this happened and no one missed her for 8 months.

 

[kaen]

What happened to the man shoved into his trunk? The whole story seems tragic and strange.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Brandon Jay Cruz, 35, pleaded guilty to Capital Murder on Thursday in the 2019 missing-person-turned-homicide of Lubbock mother Sandy Cervantes. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Court records stated officers were called for a robbery at Lucky Mart in the 1500 block of 34th Street on June 20. According to court records, the victim, David Rodriguez, was trying to fix his car after meeting with Cervantes. Court records said two suspects, later identified as Cruz and Paublo Reyes, 30, approached Rodriguez with a gun, robbed him, tied him up and forced him into the trunk of his car.

Murderer of ‘devoted’ Lubbock mother Sandy Cervantes gets life in prison

Brandon Jay Cruz, 35, pleaded guilty to Capital Murder on Thursday in the 2019 missing-person-turned-homicide of Lubbock mother Sandy Cervantes. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possi…

www.everythinglubbock.com