By Melissa Cantu Trevino
mtrevino@aliceechonews.com
Posted Feb 3, 2016 at 5:36 PM
Updated Feb 3, 2016 at 5:54 PM
Alice investigators continue the investigation into the death of 15-year-old Aydia Benavides whose body was discovered behind a vacant building on the 2100 block of Industrial Boulevard on Tuesday.
According to officials, they cannot comment on the cause of Benavides' death until the autopsy is completed by the Corpus Christ Medical Examiner.
“This is a sad situation,” said Alice Police Chief Rex Ramon. “The officers from patrol to investgators have been on the case since her family reported her as a runaway.”
Alice police received a call on Tuesday at 11:32 a.m. about an unidentified girl deceased on the grounds of a former oilfield company. According to Chief Ramon, Benavides' body was found by (three) employees of Baker Hughes several feet away from the approximately 100 feet high tanks.
Benavides had bruises to her body that are consistent with the fall, said Lt. Jason Childers with the Alice Police Department.
Benavides was reported as a runaway on Friday, Jan. 29 by her mother. She was last seen around 12 p.m. leaving Alice High School.
According to police officials, Benavides left her backpack and cell phone with the front office like many students do during the lunch period and then left campus, Childers stated.
Benavides was seen walking away from the school and we know she got a ride from someone, according to police officials.
“We made every possible effort to find her, but she made the effort not to be found,” officials said.
According to officials, no Amber Alert could be issued because she did not fit the Department of Public Safety criteria.
Officials still have several unanswered questions in this case.
“The preliminary stages of the investigation,” Childers stated. “According to the medical examiner state there are no signs of a struggle.”
According to police officials, there was only one set of shoe prints on the property and the top of the tanks that match the shoes Benavides was wearing.
The case is still ongoing and investigators have followed up with friends, family and associates of Benavides.