Arizona sheriff confirms woman found in Mexico is not missing Shayna Feinman

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that the woman identified as missing Arizona resident Shayna Feinman in Tijuana, Mexico, is not Feinman. The announcement ended a week of uncertainty after local authorities in the Mexican border city claimed to have found the 38-year-old alive. US investigators reviewed physical evidence and determined the identification was incorrect, according to a statement released by the sheriff's office on Tuesday.

Feinman was last seen in March 2024 in rural Yavapai County. She was reportedly walking to the home of an acquaintance when she disappeared. Her vehicle was found abandoned near the residence of her then-boyfriend, Cavett Richards, with her wallet and identification inside. Her cellphone was later recovered on nearby land. Richards and another man, William DalCerro, were charged with second-degree murder, conspiracy, and concealing a corpse. Those charges were dismissed, and a $20,000 reward remains active for information leading to her whereabouts.

The confusion began on Saturday when the Tijuana secretariat for security and citizen protection issued a statement saying Feinman had been located in the Encino neighborhood the previous day. The agency included a photograph of a woman sitting at a desk with a missing person poster in the background. Officials stated that the woman's physical characteristics matched Feinman's missing person report. They placed her in protective custody while arranging for a meeting with her family and US consular officials.

Kara Feinman, Shayna's sister, expressed skepticism immediately after the announcement. In an interview with local news outlet KSAZ on Monday, Kara said she was waiting for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office to verify the news. She noted that while the woman in the Tijuana photo had similar physical attributes, the family had to remain realistic. Kara told reporters, "I can only hope and pray [for] good news, but right now, we have to be realistic."

Paul Wick, a spokesperson for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, told KSAZ that the agency was aware of the reports but the information remained unconfirmed. Wick stated, "There is insufficient evidence to verify her identity." He added that detectives were actively investigating the matter and would provide an update once the information could be confirmed and released.

The sheriff's office said on Tuesday that US authorities confirmed the identity discrepancy using physical evidence. The statement noted that previous media reports regarding the alleged discovery were published without official law enforcement confirmation. The agency said its detectives continue to work with the Feinman family during this stressful time. Tijuana's security agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the mistaken identification.

Kara Feinman told The Guardian on Tuesday that the initial confusion may have stemmed from a concerned citizen who became convinced her sister was in Tijuana and shared that belief on social media. She described the experience as a period of turmoil and heartbreaking news. Kara noted that she faced online criticism for not reacting with enough enthusiasm to the false report. She said, "Words are stronger than people think, and kindness can go far. It's been turmoil going through this." Kara added that she hopes people involved in such investigations will avoid jumping to conclusions without complete information.

The case remains open as authorities continue their search. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office has not indicated when they will next update the public on the investigation's status. The $20,000 reward for information on Feinman's whereabouts remains in effect. The Tijuana authorities have not issued a formal retraction of their initial claim, though the US confirmation of the identity mismatch effectively closes that line of inquiry.