Exactly 25 years after her disappearance, the remains of a then 15-year-old Hispanic girl named Rosemary Diaz was found by Texas Police in a shallow grave within the private property owned by the family of the alleged suspect.
Investigators in Wharton County said the relatives of the alleged suspect came forward with a tip and told them about the location of the remains in Matagorda County. The man who has been labeled as a suspect had already died several months ago, they reported.
Sgt. Scott Grosser of the Wharton County Sheriff's Office said the man made partial confessions to his family members when he was still alive. After his death, relatives pieced together the crime.
"They weren't sure what they knew," said Grosser. "No one person had the full story."
Rosemary was last seen at the general store in Danevang where she used to work as a clerk. The store was situated near her home, about 80 miles southwest of Houston.
On Nov. 24, 1990, Rosemary called her mother to tell her that she would be home soon and was just closing up the shop for the night. A couple came to the store and discovered that no one was there. A television was set still behind the counter. Rosemary's personal radio and purse were untouched, as well as the cash register. Rosemary's car remained in the parking lot.
Investigators said there was no sign of a struggle. The general store had no security cameras, and so the police had no leads in the case even after Rosemary's disappearance was featured in the TV show "America's Most Wanted."
After the alleged suspect's family members reached out to the police, EquuSearch was brought in to assist the investigation and take aerial photos of the 60-acre site in Matagorda County. Tim Miller, who was part of EquuSearch, said two weeks before the discovery of the remains, aerial photos of the rural terrain directed to some possible grave sites.
On Nov. 23, the search teams uncovered human bone fragments in the area. The next day, they discovered the skeletal remains believed to be that of Rosemary's. Along with the remains, investigators found pieces of jewelry such as a heart-shaped gold amethyst ring that was given to Rosemary by her family for her quinceanera.
"It was a very emotional experience for both the family and law enforcement," said Grosser.
The skeletal remains are awaiting positive identification from forensic investigators. Grosser said they have yet to find out the circumstances of her abduction or how Rosemary died. Investigators are continuing to review evidence and interview sources.
Grosser said the main thing now is to give closure for the Diaz family.
"That's a family that has kept the memory of Rosemary alive for 25 years. They never let her memory die. They never gave up. It's all about bringing Rosemary home now," he added.
