Introduction: The Vanishing of a Vibrant Young Woman

On the morning of September 20, 1988, 19-year-old Tara Calico set out from her home in Belen, New Mexico, for her routine bike ride along State Road 47. An active and organized individual, Tara was known for her daily 36-mile cycling regimen. That day, she borrowed her mother's neon pink Huffy mountain bike, as her own was in need of repair. Little did anyone know, this ride would mark the beginning of a perplexing mystery that remains unsolved decades later. 

The Immediate Aftermath: A Desperate Search Begins

Tara had plans to play tennis with her boyfriend at 12:30 PM and had asked her mother, Patty Doel, to come looking for her if she wasn't back by noon. When Tara failed to return, Patty drove along their usual bike route but found no sign of her daughter. Panic set in, and authorities were notified. The search efforts yielded disturbing clues: pieces of Tara's Sony Walkman and a cassette tape were discovered along the road, suggesting a possible struggle. Witnesses reported seeing a light-colored pickup truck, possibly a 1953 Ford with a camper shell, following closely behind Tara during her ride. Despite these leads, no one witnessed her abduction, and her bicycle was never found. ...Read More