MESQUITE, Texas — Human remains found by police in October have been confirmed to be those of a missing Dallas Independent School District educator, according to the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office.
Jennifer Mendez Olascoaga, 24, went missing on Sept. 27 in Seagoville. Her remains were found Oct. 12 after officers were called to a wooded area near Interstate 20 and Lawson Road.
The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office website identifies Mendez Olascoaga as the person whose remains were found.
Mendez Olascoaga's cause and manner of death was listed as a homicide as of Dec. 22, according to the medical examiner's records. WFAA has reached out to Mesquite PD for further comment on the manner of death designation.
Mendez Olascoaga was a teacher's assistant in the Dallas ISD.
She was last seen on surveillance footage on Wednesday, Sept. 27 after she dropped off a friend at the Creekside Mobile Home Park, located at Highway 175 by Modene Street in Seagoville.
According to police, shortly after dropping off her friend, Mendez Olascoaga was seen on surveillance video again at a QuikTrip located at US Highway 175 and Belt Line Road in Dallas on the night of her disappearance.
Mendez Olascoaga’s family found her vehicle abandoned in Mesquite the next day on Lawson and Milam Road, about 10 minutes away from the mobile home park, police said. Her family filed a missing persons report with the Dallas Police Department, which then contacted Seagoville Police.
WFAA spoke with Mendez Olascoaga’s family members about her disappearance.
Mendez Olascoaga’s brother-in-law, Marco Barroso, said his family towed her car away and said her wallet was inside the vehicle.
“You know she always makes it home,” Mendez Olascoaga’s cousin Litzy Mendez told WFAA. “We just want her back home safe.”
Law enforcement and family members had been searching the woods in Mesquite where Mendez Olascoaga’s car was found since her disappearance.
After the remains were confirmed as Mendez Olascoaga, her family told WFAA that they were in the process of making funeral arrangement and have set up a GoFundMe account to help with expenses. If you would like to donate, click here.