Police Provide Update on Handwriting Analysis on Notes from Missing Teen, Briana Esquivel

A handwritten letter mailed to a San Angelo reporter in May promised to be the break that might bring 16-year-old missing student Briana Equivel home. Over four months after news of the note broke, however, the teenager remains missing and police are still following up on leads in hopes of finding Esquivel and bringing the search to a close. 

"We're continually receiving new information and following up on that information as we receive it," said Lt. David Howard, Commander of the San Angelo Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division.

Esquivel was 15 years old on Jan. 21 when she left her San Angelo home between 4 and 7:30 a.m. with a backpack full of personal items and her school supplies. In her absence, a letter made out to her mom, Savina Garcia, was located, stating things like 'I'll be ok' and 'do not worry about me'. When a second letter surfaced at a television news station in May, a detective with the SAPD conducted handwriting analysis comparing the new note and the runaway letter.

"The note that was left [when she ran away] was written by the same person who wrote the letter sent to the media," Lt. Howard said. 

The contents of the letter have not been released publicly, but did include some suggestions as to why she ran away, Garcia reported on social media. But there were no clues as to where she might be staying or if she intends to come home.

Lt. Howard said that recently, several possible sightings of the 16-year-old were reported in Abilene; however, detectives do not believe the teen is there any longer. The search for the missing teen continues, and tips are still being received and worked by detectives assigned to the case.

"We do not suspect any foul play at this point," Lt. Howard said.