Authorities say woman found in Mexico is not Arizonan Shayna Feinman, who went missing in 2024 and is presumed dead

American authorities confirmed that a woman found in Mexico last week is not missing Arizonan Shayna Feinman, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.

“Today, U.S. authorities confirmed to YCSO detectives, utilizing physical evidence, that the individual located is not Shayna Feinman. Detectives continue to work diligently with the family during this stressful time,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Feinman went missing more than two years ago and is presumed dead. Two men have been arrested in connection with her disappearance.

Why were there reports that Shayna Feinman was found alive in Mexico?

On Saturday, Tijuana’s police department announced on Facebook that a woman matching Feinman’s description was found Friday in the city’s Encino neighborhood. The department said it took her to a safe location where she could establish contact with U.S. consulate officials and her family.

Some news reports based on the Facebook post indicated that Feinman had been located in Tijuana, a major Baja California border city south of San Diego.

“Those news stories were published without official law enforcement confirmation,” the sheriff’s office said, adding that a $20,000 reward for information regarding her whereabouts is still on the table.

On Monday, the sheriff’s office warned that the reports out of Mexico had not been confirmed.

When did Shayna Feinman go missing?

Feinman was last seen alive March 8, 2024, in the Peach Springs/Hyde Park area east of Seligman, authorities said. Seligman is along the Interstate 40 corridor between Flagstaff and Kingman.

Feinman was walking to a friend’s house but never arrived. Her cellphone was located on a nearby property.

Despite the lack of a body, the sheriff’s office developed probable cause to arrest William DalCerro and Cavett Richards on April 28, 2024, on suspicion of second-degree murder, concealment of a dead body and conspiracy. Richards was Feinman’s boyfriend.

A neighbor who had been watching Feinman’s dog made the missing person report after she didn’t pick up her pet when expected.

The neighbor also found Feinman’s vehicle near where she and Richards had been staying. The missing woman’s ID and wallet were in the vehicle.

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