The Spine-Tingling Disappearance of Tara Leigh Calico

Source: Murders, Mysteries, and Missing

In 1988, Tara Calico, 19, and her mother, Patty Doel, were avid bicyclists. [1] The pair often traversed a 36-mile route from their home in Belen, New Mexico, along New Mexico State Road 47.

Tara’s bicycle — Source: Conspiracy Theories

However, Patty had been turning down her daughter’s invitations to join her on the journey. Recently, while she was out riding with Tara, a motorist drove aggressively close to the pair, then drove past them several times. Patty was spooked enough to take a break from the lengthy trek, but Tara felt her mother’s concern was silly and opted to still make the daily trip.

Tara’s mother and stepfather, Patty and John Doel — Source: Albuquerque Journal

So, on the morning of September 20, 1988, around 9:30 a.m., Tara hopped on her pink bicycle, eager to go on her first ride since she had gotten a flat tire several days earlier. Her mother suggested she carry mace, but Tara laughed off the idea. [2]

The stretch of road where Tara Calico went missing — Source: All That’s Interesting

As she headed out the door, a Walkman cassette player and a Boston tape in hand, Tara jokingly told her mother to come searching for her if she didn’t get back by noon because she had a date to play tennis with her boyfriend at 12:30. [1] [2]

Noon came and went with no sign of Tara. [1]

Since Patty knew the route well, she hopped on her own bicycle and rode the usual path in the hopes of finding her daughter, but her efforts were unsuccessful. [3]

An Exhaustive, Never-Ending Search

With no sign of Tara, Patty called the police, who put together a search party that scoured the route for a second time. Neither Tara nor her bike was ever found.

From the very beginning, Tara’s family knew something terrible must have happened to her. They felt it in their gut, and there had been signs that Tara’s life was in danger.