Arizona woman not missing relative

Shayna Feinman has been missing from rural Yavapai County, Arizona, since March 2024. Her family and local authorities are now processing a confirmed error in a recent international report.

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday that US authorities used physical evidence to verify that a woman found in Tijuana, Mexico, is not Feinman. The confirmation ended a brief period of speculation that began when the Tijuana secretariat for security and citizen protection claimed to have located the missing woman.

On Saturday, the Mexican agency stated that Feinman was found in the Encino neighborhood the previous day. The agency released a photo of a woman sitting at a desk with a missing person poster for Feinman nearby. Officials said the woman's physical characteristics matched the missing person report and placed her in protective custody while they contacted the family and US consular officials. The agency even posted the news on the social media page of Feinman's sister, Kara.

Kara Feinman described the situation as turbulent and heartbreaking. She told KSAZ on Monday that she was waiting for definitive proof from the sheriff's office. Although she noted the woman in the photo had similar physical attributes, she cautioned that the family had to remain realistic. Sheriff's office spokesperson Paul Wick echoed this skepticism, stating there was insufficient evidence to verify the identity at that time.

The case originated when Feinman, then 38, was last seen on foot in March 2024. Investigators believe she was walking to an acquaintance's home. She never arrived and did not return to her dog. Searchers found her car abandoned near the residence of her boyfriend, Cavett Richards. Her wallet and identification were inside the vehicle, and her cellphone was found on nearby land. Authorities initially charged Richards and William DalCerro with second-degree murder, conspiracy, and concealing a corpse, though those charges were later dismissed. A $20,000 reward remains active.

Kara Feinman believes the confusion started when a concerned citizen posted on social media that her sister was in Tijuana. She said she was initially guarded about the idea but opened her mind after the official statement. She faced online criticism for not reacting with enough joy to the false news. She urged followers to avoid jumping to conclusions and to show kindness to families in similar situations.

The Tijuana security secretariat did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the error. Detectives from the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office continue to work closely with the Feinman family as they investigate the circumstances of the mistaken identification.