One year later, police still looking for clues in Tempe woman’s death
Jun 13, 2014, 3:05 PM | Updated: 3:05 pm
TEMPE, Ariz. — Tempe police are still looking for answers in the death of a Gateway Community College student who disappeared near her home one year ago Sunday.
Adrienne Salinas, 19, disappeared June 15, 2013 after she left her townhome near Fifth Street and Hardy on foot to go to her boyfriend’s house. Her body was found two months later in Apache Junction, Ariz.
“We don’t know exactly what happened,” said Tempe Police Lt. Mike Pooley. “Our detectives have been working this case non-stop with the FBI and the Apache Junction Police Department.”
Pooley said Salinas had been drinking, and she and her boyfriend started arguing at her home during a party earlier in the evening. They left the home together, but the argument continued. Salinas jumped out of his car a few blocks away and walked back home.
Shortly after 3 a.m., Salinas called her boyfriend 11 times but he didn’t answer. She sent him a text saying that she was on her way to his house.
A short time later, someone called police and said they saw a car travelling erratically. Officers could not find the vehicle, but it was later found by Salinas’ father. It had crashed into a curb and two tires had been blown out.
Salinas’ father reporter her missing after he went to her house. Her roommates told him they hadn’t seen her. Pooley said Adrienne’s car keys were at the home and that she apparently packed a bag.
Shortly before 5 a.m. on the morning she disappeared, Salinas called a taxi and told the driver to meet her at a nearby convenience store in 15 minutes. She never arrived. Her cell phone was turned off a short time after that.
Pooley said police are still looking for suspects and “nobody is off of the table.”
Meanwhile, her family will spend Father’s Day making sure that people don’t forget about Adrienne.
“The family is going to be at Jaycee Park Sunday at 6 p.m. to remember Adrienne,” said Pooley. “They’re going to be handing out fliers to get the word back out.”
If you have any information on the case, Tempe police are asking you to call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377), or toll free AT 800-343-TIPS (8477).
