Account
Sep 03, 2012
Jan 05, 2024
Maria
Bolanos-Rivera
67
55
59 inches
135 lbs
145 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
On the morning of August 26, 2012, 55-year-old Maria Senorina Bolanos-Rivera was last seen leaving her home in Hillsboro, Oregon. A widow and devoted mother to her six children, her family described her as being very family-oriented and in frequent contact with them throughout the day. Her departure was unusual as she left behind her wallet, identification, and money, taking no personal belongings with her. Bolanos-Rivera, who has diabetes and requires medication, was not known to have any mental health issues or a history of disappearing. Her family believed she may have been going to meet a friend and co-worker named Eloy Vasquez-Santiago. Investigators soon focused on Eloy Vasquez-Santiago, who disappeared around the same time as Bolanos-Rivera. It was discovered that the two were romantically involved, though Vasquez-Santiago also had a common-law wife and a child. After Bolanos-Rivera's disappearance, Vasquez-Santiago and his family abruptly left their home and traveled to California. From there, Vasquez-Santiago continued on to Mexico alone. About a month later, he was arrested in California after deciding to return to the United States to turn himself in to the police. He was subsequently charged with the murder of Bolanos-Rivera. During the investigation, Vasquez-Santiago confessed to killing Bolanos-Rivera, stating that he had stabbed her during an argument over money while they were on a trip in the mountains. He claimed to have disposed of her body near Hagg Lake. Despite his confession and searches of the area, Bolanos-Rivera's remains have never been found. In March 2015, Eloy Vasquez-Santiago was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. However, in December 2019, the Oregon Court of Appeals overturned the conviction, ruling that his confession was involuntary. The court found that police had coerced the confession from Vasquez-Santiago, who was described as an illiterate man with a significantly low IQ. This complex case has been marked by legal challenges, including the lengthy detention of Vasquez-Santiago's father and brother as material witnesses, and the enduring pain for a family still searching for their loved one.
Aug 26, 2012
Hillsboro
Oregon
Washington County
97123
No
12257
Hillsboro Police Department
Hillsboro
Oregon
Washington County
97123
Pat LaMonica
Det.
250 Southeast 10th Avenue, Oregon
5036816190
Local
Law Enforcement
12807404
Hillsboro Police Department
Black
Brown
Brown
05/23/2026
