Family of Missing Arizona Woman Says Mexico Lead Was a Mistake
Mexican officials identified a woman in Tijuana as Shayna Feinman, but U.S. investigators confirmed the match was wrong after two years of searching.
By Lorenzo Marshall ·
The family of Shayna Feinman has received new confirmation that a recent identification in Mexico was incorrect. U.S. authorities verified that the woman pictured in Tijuana was not the Arizona resident who vanished in March 2024. This determination ends a brief period of intense speculation that had taken over social media and the family's personal messages.
Shayna Feinman was last seen walking to a friend's home in Yavapai County. She never arrived. For the past two and a half years, her disappearance has remained an open case. The recent development began when photos appeared online claiming to show Feinman alive on the streets of Tijuana. Mexican authorities subsequently released an image and publicly named the woman as Feinman.
Kara Feinman, the missing woman's sister, described the period following the release as a source of immense stress. She noted that her family was not contacted by officials before the public announcement. "This was one of the most challenging moments in a very long time in this entire case of my sister's disappearance," Kara Feinman said. The family spent days analyzing the images, noting similarities in body type and mannerisms that suggested the woman was Feinman.
The confusion persisted until additional photos emerged. Kara Feinman observed that a second image captured the same individual walking moments later, revealing physical differences that contradicted the initial match. "It would be, no, that’s not her at all," she said. U.S. investigators used physical evidence to confirm the discrepancy, concluding that the woman in Mexico was not Feinman.
The false lead rekindled the emotional toll of the search. Kara Feinman explained that the cycle of hope followed by disappointment is a recurring pattern. "You get your hopes up, and then you go through it all over again, the loss, the heartbreak, the everything, the letdown," she said. The family continues to grapple with the lack of closure, a state Kara Feinman distinguishes from the finality of knowing someone is deceased.
Since 2024, law enforcement has investigated two men in connection with Feinman's disappearance. Cavett Richards, 36, and William Dalcerro, 58, were charged with second-degree murder despite the absence of a body. Both charges were dismissed in 2025. The case remains active, and detectives are continuing their search for leads.
A $20,000 reward is available for information regarding Feinman's whereabouts. Yavapai Silent Witness handles tips via the phone number 800-932-3232 or the website yavapaisw.com. Kara Feinman stated she is determined to continue the search. "Anybody that might have seen something or heard something or anything could be the answer to figuring out where her remains are," she said.
The family holds onto personal recordings, such as a voicemail where Feinman sings a birthday song. Kara Feinman said she still reaches for her phone to call her sister. "There’s so many times I’ve called her phone, as silly as it sounds," she said. The search for Feinman remains ongoing in Yavapai County and beyond.
