Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez  – Wild Card, Texas

Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez walked out of the duplex she shared with her family in Odessa, Texas, on Aug. 2, 1985, and seemingly vanished without a trace. Her sister-in-law watched Mary head in the direction of a local bar after fighting with her husband, who they knew as Arnuldo Mendez. Mary had asked her sister-in-law to watch her 5-year-old daughter, Virginia, while she went out, but she never came home. For nearly 40 years, her family wondered whether she’d walked away from her life and children…or if something bad had happened to her. It wasn’t until a young cold case detective stumbled across her long-lost case file and started digging that clues in a decades-old mystery started to be unearthed.

Maria "Mary Faye" Mendez - Wild Card - Texas - Playing Card

Card created by Audiochuck staff

Episode Info

If you know anything about the death of Mary Mendez, contact Det. Gonzales at 432-335-4926, or to submit a tip anonymously through Odessa Crime Stoppers, call 432-333-8477 or visit 333tips.org and reference case number 84-7988.

Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez, in a photo given to investigators by her mother, Maria Lujan. In this photo, Mary does not appear to be wearing a necklace.

Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez, in a photo given to investigators by her mother, Maria Lujan. In this photo, Mary does not appear to be wearing a necklace. Courtesy of Detective Lauren Gonzales/Odessa Police Department.
In her office at the Odessa Police Department, cold case Detective Lauren Gonzales holds a photo of a composite sketch that was made based on the unidentified “Crane County Skull” (left) beside a photo of Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez.

In her office at the Odessa Police Department, cold case Detective Lauren Gonzales holds a photo of a composite sketch that was made based on the unidentified “Crane County Skull” (left) beside a photo of Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff
Delia Ortiz shows Audiochuck reporters old family photos from before her sister-in-law Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez disappeared.

Delia Ortiz shows Audiochuck reporters old family photos from before her sister-in-law Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez disappeared. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff
collection of old family photos that Delia Ortiz, Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez’s sister-in-law, showed Audiochuck reporters while discussing Maria’s case at her home in Odessa, Texas. Reporters used this magnifying glass to see if Maria was wearing a necklace in every photo - she was not. Maria’s family considers the necklace that she was known to wear most days to be a key clue in her case.

A collection of old family photos that Delia Ortiz, Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez’s sister-in-law, showed Audiochuck reporters while discussing Maria’s case at her home in Odessa, Texas. Reporters used this magnifying glass to see if Maria was wearing a necklace in every photo - she was not. Maria’s family considers the necklace that she was known to wear most days to be a key clue in her case. Courtesy: Delia Ortiz /Photo taken by Audiochuck staff
A family photo of Arnuldo (Carlos) Mendez, Maria Mendez, Delia Ortiz, and Maria’s daughter, Virginia, provided by Delia Ortiz. Delia believes this photo was taken near the Odessa Meteor Crater.

A family photo of Arnuldo (Carlos) Mendez, Maria Mendez, Delia Ortiz, and Maria’s daughter, Virginia, provided by Delia Ortiz. Delia believes this photo was taken near the Odessa Meteor Crater. Courtesy: Delia Ortiz / Photo taken by Audiochuck staff
A family photo of Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez, provided by Delia Ortiz. In this photo, Mary is not wearing a necklace. Maria’s family considers the necklace that she was known to wear to be a key clue in her case.

A family photo of Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez, provided by Delia Ortiz. In this photo, Mary is not wearing a necklace. Maria’s family considers the necklace that she was known to wear to be a key clue in her case. Courtesy: Delia Ortiz / Photo taken by Audiochuck staff
Delia Ortiz (left) and her sister-in-law Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez (right).

Delia Ortiz (left) and her sister-in-law Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez (right). Courtesy: Delia Ortiz. / Photo taken by Audiochuck staff
Detective Lauren Gonzales in her office at the Odessa Police Department.

Detective Lauren Gonzales in her office at the Odessa Police Department. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff
Detective Lauren Gonzales in her office at the Odessa Police Department.

Detective Lauren Gonzales in her office at the Odessa Police Department. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff
Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez’s family found an old newspaper clipping from 1975, when Mary’s ex-husband, Alcario Patino, was charged with attempted murder.

Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez’s family found an old newspaper clipping from 1975, when Mary’s ex-husband, Alcario Patino, was charged with attempted murder. Courtesy: Veronica Mattox
Elva Patino, sister to Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez (center), with her husband, Jose Patino, and their daughter, Veronica Mattox, in the Patino’s home in Odessa, Texas.

Elva Patino, sister to Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez (center), with her husband, Jose Patino, and their daughter, Veronica Mattox, in the Patino’s home in Odessa, Texas. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff
The area where Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez’s skull was found on a lease road near an oil drilling site in Crane County, Texas. Investigators are unsure of the exact location where it was found, because it was not properly documented.

The area where Maria “Mary Faye” Mendez’s skull was found on a lease road near an oil drilling site in Crane County, Texas. Investigators are unsure of the exact location where it was found, because it was not properly documented. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff
The area where Maria Mendez’s skull was found on a lease road near an oil drilling site in Crane County, Texas. Investigators are unsure of the exact location where it was found, because it was not properly documented.

The area where Maria Mendez’s skull was found on a lease road near an oil drilling site in Crane County, Texas. Investigators are unsure of the exact location where it was found, because it was not properly documented. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff

Episode Source Material

Original reporting by Taylor Hartz.