The person at the center of this case
Amberly Mendoza, age 10
Cold Case · Open - Unsolved
30 years waiting · since 1996
AMBERLY MENDOZA
Justice for Amberly Mendoza, age 10 — the trail went cold in 1996, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🔍
evidence
Lead #1How did the perpetrator gain entry to the home if there were no signs of forced entry? Was the window screen removal the method of entry or exit?
🎯
suspect
Lead #2Who had knowledge of the home's layout and access to the first-floor bedroom window?
👁️
witness
Lead #3Did any neighbors or residents observe suspicious activity near the home on March 9, 1996?
On March 9, 1996, 10-year-old Amberly Mendoza was found dead in her bedroom in Yuma, Arizona. She had been sexually assaulted and asphyxiated; the screen to her first-floor bedroom window had been removed, but there were no signs of forced entry. Despite decades of investigation by the FBI's Phoenix Field Office and Yuma Police Department, her killer remains unidentified and at large.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4What forensic evidence was recovered from the scene, and have DNA databases or genealogical records provided any leads?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Murder Victim Yuma, Arizona March 9, 1996 The FBI's Phoenix Field Office and the Yuma Police Department in Arizona are seeking information from the public regarding the death of Amberly Mendoza. The 10-year-old girl was found deceased in the bedroom of her home in Yuma, Arizona, on March 9, 1996.
There were no signs of forced entry to the home, however the screen to her first-floor bedroom window had been removed. Amberly had been sexually assaulted and murdered, with the cause of death being asphyxiation.
Investigative efforts to date have been unsuccessful in leading to the identification of Amberly's killer.
Timeline of Events
🔍
1996-03-09
Body discovered
Amberly Mendoza was found deceased in the bedroom of her home in Yuma, Arizona. She had been sexually assaulted and asphyxiated.
📋
1996-03-09
Window screen removed
The screen to her first-floor bedroom window had been removed, but there were no signs of forced entry to the home.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:March 9, 1996
Last Updated:September 17, 2026
Up to $30,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case
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Case Information
Incident:March 9, 1996
Last Updated:September 17, 2026
Up to $30,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case