It was Memorial Day, 1985, when fifteen-year-old Tyra Garcia slipped out the front door to a neighbors house, saying she’d be gone for only a few minutes. No one expected those minutes to stretch into hours… and then days. And no one could have imagined that 40 years later, the case would still be unsolved. Especially when the answers seem to be right in front of us.
Because there are two very compelling suspects that were barely investigated by law enforcement back then. Despite the fact that one matched a suspect composite sketch. And drove the same kind of car she was last seen getting into. And even when it’s found out that the bedspread her body was wrapped in was similar to one missing from their hotel room, little was done to find out what happened. Is it too late for answers? The current investigator would say no way. And he, along with a forensic scientist, are on a mission to find out what happened to Tyra and who is responsible.
Episode Info
If you know anything about the murder of Tyra Garcia, be that call that brings Tyra’s family justice after over 40 years with no answers. If you are that someone, please call the Ventura County Cold Case Unit at 805-383-8739 or email coldcase@ventura.org. You can also call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-222-8477 or visit venturacountycrimestoppers.org and submit an anonymous tip.
Composite sketch. Photo courtesy of Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Newspaper clipping. Photo courtesy of Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Pictured are the original investigators at the crime scene in orange orchard. Photo courtesy of Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Tyra at the age of five. Courtesy of the Memorial for Tyra Garcia Facebook page, via Tanya Garcia.
Tyra in elementary school. Courtesy of the Memorial for Tyra Garcia Facebook page, via Tanya Garcia.
Tyra and her sister, Teresa on Tyra’s last Christmas in 1984. Courtesy of the Memorial for Tyra Garcia Facebook page, via Tanya Garcia.
Episode Source Material
Original reporting by Nicole Kagan and Annie Roderique-Jones
