Detectives are still searching for anyone with information about a San Diego woman whose body was found in a Washington river last year.
On Jan. 10, 2014, the body of 61-year-old Maria Guadalupe Vega was pulled from the Spokane River, according to Spokane County Sheriff’s officials.
Following a year-long investigation, detectives from Spokane came to San Diego in search of answers.
Vega, who may have also gone by Rosalba Robayo Blanco while living in Fresno, used to rent a room in Oceanside before moving to Encinitas with another Hispanic family from Aug. to Dec. 2013, Detective Justin Elliot said in a press conference Thursday.
Their efforts to find anyone related to the victim were unsuccessful, but Elliot said they were able to gather a lot of new information from friends and acquaintances.
They were unable to locate the former room mate, however.
In Thursday's press conference, Elliot said it is "not uncommon" to find bodies in the Spoken River, but there still seems to be no link between Vega and Washington.
Her cause of death was ruled a drowning, but "foul play is a real possibility," Elliot said.
He did not say why.
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Vega's last known communication was Dec. 11, 2013 and her body was pulled from the river a month later. Elliot said she was identified by fingerprints taken by United States Immigration and Naturalization Service in 1988.
There is no indication Vega had any children, but may have nieces and nephews in San Diego, he said. Detectives also believe she may have family in Tijuana.
Detective Elliot said "the history's been very limited," but the investigation is ongoing.
He and his partner left Friday, but may return again if they come up with any leads.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office and the San Diego County Sheriff will continue to work together to solve the mystery behind Vega and her death.
If you know anything about Vega, call the Crime Stoppers of Washington’s Inland Northwest at 1-800-222-TIPS. You can also submit a tip through their website.
