The person at the center of this case
Tara Leigh Calico
Missing Person · Open
37 years waiting · since 1988
TARA LEIGH CALICO
Justice for Tara Leigh Calico — the trail went cold in 1988, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🚗
vehicle
Lead #1A neon pink Huffy mountain bike with yellow control cables and sidewalls was her mode of transportation—has this bike ever been recovered or sighted?
📍
location
Lead #2Highway 47 was part of her daily 36-mile routine bike route—were there any unusual vehicles or persons observed in the area that morning?
🔍
evidence
Lead #3Calico wore distinctive jewelry including a gold butterfly ring with diamond insert and gold amethyst ring—have these items ever surfaced?
Tara Leigh Calico, 19, disappeared on September 20, 1988, while on a routine bike ride along Highway 47 near Belen, New Mexico—she left home at 9:30 a.m. and was last seen at 11:45 a.m. riding a distinctive neon pink Huffy mountain bike. Despite extensive investigation and a $20,000 FBI reward, her fate remains unknown and no credible leads have resolved the case in over 35 years. Anyone with information about her disappearance or whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI Albuquerque Field Office.
Case
#266
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - Albuquerque Field Office
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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.
⏰
timeline
Lead #4The 2-hour gap between departure (9:30 a.m.) and last sighting (11:45 a.m.) covers her typical route—what happened between 11:45 a.m. and when she failed to return home?
💡
clue
Lead #5She had a large scar on the back of her right shoulder and a dime-sized brown birthmark—could these identifying marks help confirm remains if discovered?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
September 20, 1988 Belen, New Mexico Tara Leigh Calico left her home on Brugg Street in Belen, New Mexico, to go on a bike ride at 9:30 a.m. on September 20, 1988.
She rode her mother's bicycle as her own was damaged. She was last seen riding along Highway 47 in Valencia County at approximately 11:45 a.m.
Calico biked this route daily during her routine 36-mile ride. She was 19 years old at the time of her disappearance, and was never seen again.
Remarks: Calico was last seen riding a neon pink Huffy mountain bike with yellow control cables and sidewalls. She was wearing a white t-shirt with '1st National Bank of Belen' on it (size medium), white shorts with green stripes, white ankle socks, and white and turquoise Avia tennis shoes.
Calico was also wearing a gold butterfly ring with a diamond insert, a gold amethyst ring, and half-inch gold hoop earrings.
Timeline of Events
👤
1988-09-20
09:30Left home for bike ride
Tara Leigh Calico departed her home on Brugg Street in Belen, New Mexico to go on a bike ride riding her mother's bicycle.
👁️
1988-09-20
11:45Last sighting on Highway 47
Calico was last seen riding her neon pink Huffy mountain bike along Highway 47 in Valencia County, approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes after departing home.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:September 20, 1988 at 9:30 AM
Last Updated:June 8, 2026
Up to $20,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case
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Case Information
Incident:September 20, 1988 at 9:30 AM
Last Updated:June 8, 2026
Up to $20,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case