Zoe Campos has been missing nearly three years, and Sunday was her 21st birthday. The milestone brings sadness to her family, and also serves as a reminder of why they will continue to search for her.
Zoe was 18 when she was reported missing to Lubbock Police on November 17 of 2013. Lubbock Police said that someone was seen driving Zoe’s 1997 Lincoln town car a few days after her disappearance. Zoe was last seen headed to pick up her mom from work, but Zoe never showed up. Her last cell phone ping was located near Lowrey Field.
Zoe’s mother Melinda Campos has been working with investigators to find her daughter and has consistently been the voice behind the effort to locate her daughter.
In an interview with EverythingLubbock.com in October of 2015, Melinda said. “We’re looking for her. She needs to be brought home. Thats the bottom line. I dont care what your past is, just bring her home. Help me, help me bring her home.”
Jeni Castillo, an advocate for Zoe and her family, said that Zoe’s birthday was a very emotional time for Melinda. Which is why Castillo spoke to EverythingLubbock.com Sunday on Melinda’s behalf.
“It’s been hard for the Campos family. We’re going on the three year mark for Zoe’s disappearance and I think the hardest part for the family is the not knowing when she’s going to come home and when she’s going to be here, to not be able to hold your child every single night, but especially on their birthday,” Castillo said.
“Melinda wanted me to tell the community thank you for the prayers, thank you for the support, for sharing [Zoe’s] story,” Castillo said.
She added that while Zoe’s name may fade out of the headlines from time to time, Melinda deals with the pain of not knowing where her daughter is every day.
Castillo hopes that anyone who feels inclined continues sharing Zoe’s story: with friends, on fliers, and on social media, so that Zoe is not forgotten.
“When we share these posts every single day, Zoe stays alive here in Lubbock,” she said.
Castillo added that to her knowledge, there hasn’t been much recent progress in the investigation into Zoe’s disappearance. Many of the details remain a mystery to Zoe’s loved ones.
Zoe is described as 5 feet tall, weighing roughly 100 pounds, she has brown hair and brown eyes.
If you have information about Zoe, call Crime Line at 741-1000.
On September 25 at the Library Bar on September 25 at 5:30 pm there will be live music fundraiser for the search efforts to find Zoe.
“Hopefully somebody who knows something is gonna be able to speak up and say something and we can bring this precious girl home,” said Castillo.
