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Martha Anaya Missing Person Case

Last seen in Santa Ana, California on Nov 12, 2013

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Victim Details

Nov 14, 2013

Dec 14, 2021

Martha

Anaya

40

27

65 inches

160 lbs

170 lbs

Hispanic / Latino

Female

Nov 12, 2013

Santa Ana

California

Orange County

92703

14523

Santa Ana Police Department

Santa Ana

California

Orange County

92701

Victoria Jurado

Investigator

60 Civic Center Plaza, California

7142458665

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.santa-ana.org/departments/police/

1331072

Santa Ana Police Department

Blond/Strawberry

Brown

Brown

Oct 10, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP22646) and 10 other sources
Martha Elizabeth Anaya, 27, was last seen on November 12, 2013, in Santa Ana, California. She left her home without taking any personal belongings and has not been heard from since. That same day, Martha sent a text message to her boyfriend asking him to pick up their daughter, which was the last known contact she made. She was known to frequent areas around 1st Street and Lyon in Santa Ana, and her sudden disappearance was out of character, especially given her close ties to her family.

Her disappearance is believed to be connected to the cases of two other women, Kianna Jackson and Josephine Vargas, who also went missing from the same area around the same time. All three women were engaged in sex work, and they disappeared within weeks of each other, leading investigators to link their cases.

In April 2014, Franc Cano and Steven Dean Gordon, both registered sex offenders, were arrested and charged with the murders of Anaya, Jackson, Vargas, and another woman, Jarrae Nykkole Estepp. Estepp's body had been found at a recycling plant in Anaheim. Cano and Gordon had been wearing GPS ankle monitors at the time of the disappearances, and this evidence helped link them to the crimes. Gordon was eventually convicted and sentenced to death, while Cano awaits trial.

Martha's case remains open, but foul play is strongly suspected due to the circumstances of her disappearance and the convictions tied to her case.
Last Seen: Nov 12, 2013

Links to Additional Sources (10)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Martha Elizabeth Anaya - The Charley Project
  • Martha Elizabeth Anaya | State of California - Department of Justice
  • Family seeks help in disappearance of 27-year-old Santa Ana mother
  • Missing Person: Santa Ana Mom, 28, Last Seen November 12
  • Santa Ana missing women: 1 woman found; not linked to 3 others
  • Suspected serial killer admits to murders of 4 women in Anaheim ...
  • Police Hunt for 3 Missing Women in Santa Ana - NBC Los Angeles
  • Martha Anaya - - New Santa Ana
  • MISSING: Martha Anaya 27-yr mother
  • Orange County serial killer Franc Cano gets life in prison

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (5)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Long Beach, California - unidentified case UP91724
    Jane Doe — Long Beach, California
    UP91724 • Found Apr 20, 2022
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 98%18 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'0"–5'3" vs 5'5"
    Weight 96%125–140 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 10%Black vs Blond
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP158123
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP158123 • Found Apr 10, 2026
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 40–65 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 94%32 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1"–5'7" vs 5'5"
    Weight 72%120 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    Jane Doe — Arleta, California - unidentified case UP104482
    Jane Doe — Arleta, California
    UP104482 • Found Apr 11, 2023
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 27 when missing
    Race 60%White
    Location 90%45 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2"–5'5" vs 5'5"
    Weight 100%125–145 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — Alpine, California
    UP107707 • Found Jun 5, 2023
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 77%92 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3"–5'7" vs 5'5"
    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP81695
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP81695 • Found Jun 26, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 27 when missing
    Race 60%White
    Location 95%30 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0"–5'6" vs 5'5"
    Weight 91%136 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    Martha Elizabeth Anaya, 27, was last seen on November 12, 2013, in Santa Ana, California. She left... ...Read More
    02/27/2024

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