CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – As of July 29, only one of five recent missing persons cases reported in the Grants area remains listed in the New Mexico Department of Public Safety’s Missing Persons Clearinghouse, despite all five cases now being confirmed as resolved by local law enforcement.
Between May and July 2025, five individuals were reported missing from the Grants area, including four teenagers and one adult woman. Several of the initial cases were shared publicly only through social media posts and were not followed by formal alerts. In the weeks following initial reports, law enforcement agencies confirmed that each of the individuals had been located or otherwise accounted for.
The following individuals have since been cleared from active investigation and no longer appear on the state’s missing persons clearinghouse: • Loretta Guthrie, age 60 – Reported missing on May 7, 2025
• Ericka Estrada, age 17 – Reported missing on June 16, 2025
• Leah Marley Leon, age 15 – Reported missing on July 4, 2025
• Skyla Cornelius, age 14 – Reported missing on July 10, 2025 Grants Police confirmed that Leon and Begay were located shortly after being reported missing. In previous statements, Cibola County Sheriff Larry Diaz confirmed that Guthrie and Estrada were also accounted for, and said his department had located Cornelius as well. All individuals listed above are no longer considered missing.
However, as of Monday, July 29, Destinee Begay, age 15, who was reported missing on May 4, 2025, remains listed in the state’s clearinghouse. Grants Police confirmed that Begay was located safely the same day she was reported missing.
Law enforcement agencies indicated they are in the process of working with the New Mexico Department of Public Safety to correct and update the database. No timeline was given for when those changes would be reflected publicly.
The Cibola Citizen will continue to monitor the clearinghouse and provide updates as they become available.
Anyone with information about a missing person in Cibola County is encouraged to contact the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office at (505) 287-9476, the Grants Police Department at (505) 287-2984, or the New Mexico Missing Persons Hotline at 1-800-457-3463.