Tara Leigh Calico was a vibrant 19-year-old college sophomore living in Belen, New Mexico, when she vanished on September 20, 1988. Known for her intelligence, kindness, and playful spirit, Tara was studying at the University of New Mexico’s Valencia Campus and worked part-time at a local bank. She had a daily routine of embarking on a 36-mile bike ride along New Mexico State Road 47, a habit she shared with her mother, Patty Doel, until Patty stopped due to suspicions of being followed by a suspicious vehicle. Tara’s family described her as someone with a “bright light around her,” and she had plans for the future, including a tennis date with her boyfriend on the day she disappeared.
The Day of the Disappearance
On that fateful morning, Tara left her home around 9:30 a.m. on her mother’s pink Huffy bicycle, equipped with a Sony Walkman playing a Boston cassette tape. She told her mother to come looking for her if she wasn’t back by noon, jokingly adding, “If I’m not home by noon, come looking for me.” This ominous warning would haunt her family. Witnesses reported seeing Tara along her route, with the last confirmed sighting at approximately 11:45 a.m. Some accounts mentioned a light-colored Ford pickup truck (possibly a 1953 F-150 with a camper shell) following her closely.
When Tara didn’t return, Patty drove the route multiple times and alerted the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office. Searchers found pieces of her Walkman and the cassette tape scattered along the road near a secluded campground, but no sign of Tara or her bike. The family immediately suspected foul play, especially given prior incidents like threatening notes left on Tara’s car and reports of her being stalked.
The Infamous Polaroid Photo
Nearly ten months later, in June 1989, a chilling Polaroid photograph surfaced in a convenience store parking lot in Port St. Joe, Florida. The image showed a young woman and a boy, both bound and gagged with duct tape, lying on a mattress in what appeared to be the back of a van. Next to them was a copy of V.C. Andrews’ “My Sweet Audrina,” Tara’s favorite book, and the woman bore a striking resemblance to her, including a possible matching scar on her leg. Patty Doel was convinced it was her daughter, and Scotland Yard analysts agreed it was likely Tara. However, FBI analyses were inconclusive, and the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office largely dismissed it, focusing instead on local leads.
The boy was initially thought to be Michael Henley, a 9-year-old who disappeared in New Mexico in April 1988, but his remains were found in 1990, unrelated to foul play. Additional similar photos were mailed anonymously in 2009 from Albuquerque, but led nowhere. To this day, the individuals in the Polaroid remain unidentified, though many believe it’s not connected to Tara’s case.
Investigations and Challenges
The case has been handled primarily by the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office, with involvement from the FBI, New Mexico State Police, and other agencies. In 1998, a judge declared Tara deceased and ruled her death a homicide. A multi-agency task force was formed in 2013, using advanced technology to re-examine evidence, but it disbanded in 2015 due to resource issues and leaks. A sealed search warrant was executed in 2021 at a local property.
Tara’s family, particularly her mother Patty (who passed away in 2006 from a stroke, still believing in the Polaroid), and stepsister Michele Doel, have been relentless advocates. Childhood friend Melinda Esquibel has produced a podcast (“Vanished: The Tara Calico Investigation”) and is working on a docuseries to generate leads. A 2010 New Mexico Supreme Court ruling removed the statute of limitations for first-degree felonies, allowing potential prosecution even now.
Theories and Sheriffs’ Perspectives
Over the years, several theories have emerged, with a divide between the Polaroid abduction narrative and local foul play.
- Abduction and the Polaroid Theory: Early on, the photo suggested Tara was kidnapped and possibly trafficked across state lines. Patty Doel clung to this, hoping her daughter was alive. However, investigators like those from the VCSO have downplayed it, viewing it as unrelated.
- Local Accident and Cover-Up: This is the predominant theory among local law enforcement. Former Sheriff Rene Rivera, who oversaw the case from 1996 to 2011, has been vocal about his belief that Tara was accidentally struck by a pickup truck driven by at least two local teenage boys (now men) who knew her. In a panic, they allegedly killed her to cover up the incident, with two accomplices and their families assisting in hiding the body and bike in Valencia County. Rivera cited two informants and stated in interviews (including 2008 and 2010) that he knows the perpetrators’ names but lacks physical evidence like the body for a successful prosecution. He claimed there was enough evidence for an arrest warrant but not to convict without more. Rivera also noted community protectionism and internal leaks hindered progress.
- Premeditated Stalking and Assault: Supported by Esquibel and Michele Doel, this theory posits that a group of local boys stalked Tara after she rejected romantic advances from one of them. They allegedly planned her abduction four days prior, leading to her death. This aligns with witness reports of the truck and prior threats.
Current Sheriff Denise Vigil’s office, as of June 2023, announced substantial progress, identifying “the offenders” (likely the local suspects) and submitting evidence to the District Attorney for review. Lead investigator Lt. Joseph Rowland emphasized new evidence from 2020 onward, expressing confidence in solving the case despite no body or DNA. Names remain sealed pending a grand jury.
As of October 2025, no arrests have been made, but the case remains active. Tips can be submitted to the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office at 505-866-2400 or the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Tara’s story continues to captivate, symbolizing the pain of unresolved loss and the hope for justice.
