Maria Del Carmen Hernandez Rojas, known lovingly as “Mita” by her family and friends, was a 20-year-old young woman living in Colton, California, in 1991. Born on January 15, 1971, she came of age in a vibrant Hispanic community in San Bernardino County. Those who knew her remember her as affectionate, loyal, and stylish. Her distinctive appearance included a mole on her upper lip and a preference for jewelry—she was known for wearing rings on every finger, a detail her family has never forgotten when describing her.
Mita was entering adulthood in a world filled with hopes and challenges. Like many young women of her age, she balanced family responsibilities, friendships, and personal aspirations. She was close to her loved ones, especially siblings and cousins, and she shared the typical dreams of a 20-year-old—thinking about work, relationships, and what the future might hold. That future, however, was tragically cut short.
The Day of Disappearance
December 12, 1991, began like many other days in Colton. Nestled in the Inland Empire, Colton was a city with both suburban rhythms and the pulse of nearby urban centers. On that day, Maria Del Carmen was last seen in the area, but soon afterward, everything changed. According to reports and family accounts, she was forcibly abducted, a chilling phrase that forever altered the lives of those who loved her.
The exact details of the abduction remain scarce in public records. What is known is that she vanished suddenly and completely, without the ability to contact her family or friends. In one moment, she was a familiar presence in her neighborhood; in the next, she was gone. The absence of immediate answers turned her disappearance into a haunting mystery that has endured for decades.
The Immediate Aftermath
When Maria failed to return home or check in, her family quickly became alarmed. She was not the type to disappear without word. Calls to friends yielded no trace, and hours turned into panic. Local police in Colton were contacted, and the disappearance was officially reported. Investigators began piecing together what little information they had, but the lack of witnesses or evidence made the case difficult from the start…