The person at the center of this case
Amberly Mendoza, 10-year-old girl
Cold Case · Open - Unsolved
30 years waiting · since 1996
AMBERLY MENDOZA
Justice for Amberly Mendoza, 10-year-old girl — the trail went cold in 1996, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1How was the bedroom window screen removed and where is it now? Could it contain forensic evidence?
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suspect
Lead #2Who had knowledge of the home's layout and access to the property without triggering forced entry?
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evidence
Lead #3What forensic evidence was collected from the crime scene, and have DNA databases or genealogical records yielded any matches?
On March 9, 1996, 10-year-old Amberly Mendoza was found dead in her bedroom in Yuma, Arizona. She had been sexually assaulted and murdered by asphyxiation, with the killer entering through a removed first-floor window screen and leaving no other signs of forced entry. Despite decades of investigation by the FBI Phoenix Field Office and Yuma Police Department, the perpetrator remains unidentified and the case remains unsolved.
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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.
👁️
witness
Lead #4Did neighbors or family members observe any suspicious activity or unfamiliar persons near the home on March 9, 1996?
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
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1996-03-09
Body discovered
Amberly Mendoza found deceased in her bedroom at her home in Yuma, Arizona. Cause of death determined to be asphyxiation. Evidence of sexual assault present.
📋
1996-03-09
Point of entry identified
Screen to first-floor bedroom window had been removed. No other 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:October 30, 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:October 30, 2026
Up to $30,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case