A woman found in Mexico was wrongly identified as an American who had vanished more than two years ago, police have confirmed. Mexican officials announced they had located Shayna Feinman alive, but her family questioned whether it was the right person. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office later corrected the identification, saying it was based on physical evidence.
Family doubts proved correct
Shayna was 38 when she disappeared in Arizona in March 2024. Her sister Kara raised doubts about the identification before American investigators confirmed the woman found in Tijuana was not Shayna. The sheriff's office issued the correction, stating: 'Today, U.S. authorities confirmed to YCSO detectives, utilising physical evidence, that the individual located is not Shayna Feinman.'
When authorities thought Shayna had been found, Kara told FOX 10: 'There are a ton of people that are short like she was and have dark hair, everywhere.' She was waiting for confirmation from investigators in Arizona, adding: 'I can only hope and pray [for] good news, but right now, we have to be realistic, rational and calm.'
Mexican officials' announcement
The announcement came from Tijuana's security and protection service, known as the SSPCM, which said officers had found the woman in the Encino neighbourhood on October 23. It claimed her physical characteristics matched Shayna's. Mexican officials said they had confirmed her identity and taken her to a safe location, allowing contact with her family and US consular authorities.
However, investigators in Arizona had not verified the identification. Sheriff's office spokesman Paul Wick initially said: 'We are aware of reports indicating that Shayna Feinman may have been located in Mexico. At this time, the information remains unconfirmed, and there is insufficient evidence to verify her identity.' Tijuana officials also released a photograph of the woman they believed was Shayna.
Disappearance and investigation
Shayna disappeared in the Peach Springs and Hyde Park area near Seligman, Arizona, more than two years ago. Investigators believe she was walking to a friend's house but never arrived. A neighbour who had been looking after her dog reported her missing when she failed to collect the pet. The neighbour also found her car near the property where she was staying with her boyfriend; her wallet and identification were still inside. Detectives later recovered her mobile phone on a nearby property.
Shayna's boyfriend Cavett Richards and another man, William DalCerro, faced second-degree murder charges in 2024, along with conspiracy and concealment of a dead body. Court records showed the murder charges against both men were dismissed in January 2025. The investigation proceeded without a body being found, and police appealed for residents to check camera footage for anything that might help.
Shayna's father Eliot and sister Kara travelled to the area where she was last seen to seek answers. During the visit, they were given some of her belongings and reunited with her dog. Kara told Arizona's Family that there had been other reported sightings of her sister, which she said had been disheartening when there was little evidence to support them. The sheriff's office says detectives are continuing to work with the family, and a $20,000 reward remains available for information on Shayna's whereabouts.
