Bonnie Santiago

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Albemarle County Police Department (VA)

Missing From:

Albemarle County, Virginia

Summary:

Bonnie Santiago, a 56-year-old mother of seven, disappeared on July 12, 2014, from her boyfriend's residence near Carter Mountain Orchard in Albemarle County, Virginia. Her vehicle was found days later showing signs of violent struggle and containing blood believed to be hers. Law enforcement believes she is deceased, though her remains have never been recovered.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Disappearance:

On July 12, 2014, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Bonnie Santiago was last seen at her boyfriend's residence located near Carter Mountain Orchard in Albemarle County, Virginia. Santiago, a resident of Brands Flat in Augusta County, was visiting her boyfriend when, according to reports, they had an argument and she left the residence. She was never seen or heard from again. Her family reported her missing on July 14, 2014. When her van was located a few days later, investigators discovered significant evidence of a violent struggle. The vehicle's rear-view mirror had been nearly torn off, blood believed to be Santiago's was found inside, and there were footprints on the inside of the windshield. Santiago's personal belongings—including her cellular phone, eyeglasses, heart medications, and flip-flops—were found abandoned in the van. Since her disappearance, there has been no contact with her: no cell phone use, no bank account activity, and no refilling of prescriptions.

Additional Details:

The Albemarle County Police Department and Albemarle County Sheriff's Office conducted extensive initial searches of Carter Mountain on July 15 and 16, 2014, using canine search dogs and officers on horseback to cover the rugged terrain, but found no sign of Santiago. The search was suspended after two days. In January 2016, based on a tip that Santiago's body might be buried on a property, authorities obtained a search warrant in Augusta County Circuit Court and drained a septic tank on West Village Circle in the Craigsville area on January 29, 2016, but the search yielded no remains. Law enforcement believes Santiago met with foul play and is probably dead. Her boyfriend, who was the last person to see her, was ruled out as a suspect in the early stages of the investigation. Santiago's case received media attention, including coverage by NBC's Dateline in February 2016. A billboard was created in Albemarle County to solicit information. Her niece, Sabrina High (known as Sabrina Rock), was a cast member on the TLC reality series Breaking Amish. The investigation remains open and active as of recent years. The family continues to seek answers and has made public appeals for information.

Case Last Updated:

Oct 29, 2026