Maria Rosario Olea, 29, was last seen leaving her brother’s home on the evening of November 18, 2006, in Colorado Springs after saying she would be back shortly. She did not show up the next day for a scheduled custody exchange for her young son, missed a planned outing with a friend, and could not be reached by phone, prompting a missing person report to the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Her purse and cell phone were not located, though personal items including uncashed child support checks and newly purchased furniture were left behind. Six days after she vanished her blue 1999 Chevrolet Blazer was found locked and abandoned in the parking lot of Zio’s Italian Kitchen, a restaurant she was not known to frequent; a friend’s brother worked there. At the time she was reported missing she was described as a Hispanic female, reddish-brown hair, brown eyes, about 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 6 inches tall, wearing a red shirt, blue pants and white shoes, with multiple ear piercings.

Her family says she had recently lost her job but appeared in good spirits and was actively looking for work. Because she missed the custody exchange and left without phone or purse, her loved ones and authorities consider foul play possible. Did anyone in the area around November 18, 2006, see Maria or her Blazer near Zio’s or elsewhere?