Tara Calico, a sophomore at the University of New Mexico, balances her studies with a job at a bank.

On the morning of September 20, at 9:30 a.m., Tara set off on her daily bike ride using her mother’s pink Huffy bike. She mentioned to her mom that she planned to play tennis with her boyfriend later, and if she wasn’t back by noon, her mom should come looking for her. Her mother took this suggestion seriously.

By 12:05 p.m., when Tara hadn’t returned, her mother, Patty, decided to retrace the path Tara usually took, fully expecting to find her walking along the road with her bike. Patty drove out to the train tracks where Tara typically turned around for home, but seeing no sign of her daughter, Patty assumed she had somehow missed her and returned home.

Panic set in when Patty called Tara’s boyfriend, only to discover he hadn’t seen her. She then contacted the police, who launched an immediate search for Tara, recognizing that her disappearance was unusual and concerning.

Tara’s sister, Michele, joined the search efforts along with Tara’s friends and boyfriend. As a storm loomed and temperatures dropped, they walked side by side, two feet apart, scouring both sides of the road for any trace of Tara.

About two and a half miles down the search route, some tire tracks that look spun out are discovered on the side of the road. It seems like there was a scuffle, and the bike marks are visible amongst the tire marks from the vehicle.

Tara is known to use a distinctive, bright yellow Walkman on her bike ride, and when a broken piece of a bright yellow Walkman is found in the area of the tire marks, her sister, Michele, believes it is Tara leaving a trail to follow.

A cassette tape of the band “Boston” is discovered about three miles from her home on the side of Highway 47. Tara’s mother, Patty, identifies the tape as belonging to Tara, saying that it is what Tara was listening to on her bike ride.

Tara Calico was last seen riding her mother’s neon pink Huffy mountain bicycle on Highway 47 about two miles from her home in Belen.

A dirty white or light gray 1953 Ford pickup truck with a white, handmade shell was following directly behind her. Still, investigators don’t know if the truck has anything to do with the disappearance of Tara Calico.

Joining Nancy Grace:

Additional Guest

• John Day – Criminal Defense Attorney of John Day Law

“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.

[Feature Photo: Family Handout]