Nora Elia Castillo was a young woman whose remains were found scattered in a field frequently passed by truck drivers.
She was identified in 2022 following a DNA match through NamUs. The remains had been exhumed in December 2021 to obtain the required samples, and the potential match first came to light in August 2022. By October, an official confirmation was made.
Disappearance[]
Castillo was last heard from during either 1986 or 1987, via a phone call out of Colorado. An official missing person report was filed in 1996 by her daughter. DNA was later obtained and processed in 2004 after McAllen, Texas authorities were reached out to.
Information as to why Castillo was present in this state at the time remains unconfirmed.
Discovery[]
Castillo's skeleton was discovered on farmland near the city of Springfield, Colorado in the early summer of 1988. Examination indicated the subject had died approximately one to three years before, and the nature of her death was ruled as suspicious. Her ancestry was unclear, but the remains bore traits shared by those of Hispanic/Latino, Native American, and European people. Although Castillo, in fact, had a biological daughter, it was believed the decedent had never experienced childbirth.
Characteristics[]
- Brown hair.
- Two silver cast crowns alongside extensive dental work, resembling treatments commonly done in Mexico and nearby border regions.
Clothing and accessories[]
- One single quarter from 1986 in the pocket.
- Levi brand gray corduroy jeans with leg cuffs hemmed to a 27.5-inch inseam, size 30x31.
- Bra, size 34B.
- Beige winter coat with a white synthetic fur collar and 4-inch fur cuffs.
Reconstruction