Sheriff confirms Mexican find is not missing hiker

Yavapai County authorities confirmed on Tuesday that the woman reported alive in Tijuana is not Shayna Feinman, the Arizona hiker who disappeared in March 2024. The sheriff’s office stated that US investigators used physical evidence to verify the identity of the individual located in Mexico. This finding resolves a public mix-up that began when local officials in Tijuana announced they had found Feinman on Saturday.

The confusion originated with the security and citizen protection secretariat in Tijuana. The agency issued a statement on Saturday claiming Feinman had been located in the Encino neighborhood the previous day. They included a photograph showing a woman sitting behind a desk with a missing person poster displaying Feinman’s details. The statement asserted that investigators confirmed her identity based on matching physical characteristics. Officials said the woman was in protective custody while they arranged for her to speak with the Feinman family and US consular officials.

The announcement received immediate public attention. The Tijuana agency even posted a link to their statement on the social media page of Kara Feinman, the missing woman’s sister. Despite the official release, both Kara Feinman and the Yavapai County sheriff’s office expressed skepticism. Kara told the news outlet KSAZ on Monday that she was waiting for official confirmation before accepting the news. She noted that while the woman in the photo had similar physical attributes to her sister, the family needed to remain realistic.

Paul Wick, a spokesperson for the Yavapai County sheriff’s office, told KSAZ that the department was aware of the reports but considered the information unconfirmed at the time. He stated that there was insufficient evidence to verify the identity. The office said it was actively investigating the matter. On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office released a statement confirming that US authorities had provided the definitive answer to detectives. The statement noted that previous media reports about the discovery were published without official law enforcement confirmation.

The case remains open. Feinman was last seen walking to an acquaintance’s home in rural Yavapai County in March 2024. She was 38 years old at the time. Her car was found abandoned near the home of her then boyfriend, Cavett Richards. Her wallet and identification were inside the vehicle. Her cellphone was later recovered on nearby land. Authorities charged Richards and William DalCerro with second-degree murder, conspiracy, and concealing a corpse. Those charges were eventually dismissed. A $20,000 reward remains available for information leading to a solution.

Kara Feinman spoke with The Guardian on Tuesday about the emotional impact of the false report. She said the initial confusion likely started when a concerned citizen believed her sister was in Tijuana and shared that belief on social media. Kara described the process of reluctantly considering the possibility before enduring online criticism. She said some users judged her for not reacting enthusiastically enough to the news. She hopes that people working on such cases will recognize the harm caused by jumping to conclusions without all the facts.

Kara Feinman described the period as turmoil and heartbreaking. She said the experience was terrible and that she did not wish it on anyone else. She emphasized the power of kindness during high-pressure investigations. The Tijuana secretariat did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the misidentification.

Detectives in Yavapai County continue to work with the Feinman family. The search for Shayna Feinman remains active as the office investigates the circumstances of her disappearance.