Missing
Yalitza Garcia
Garcia, approximately 2009; Jason Allen
Date and time person was reported missing : 07/02/2009
Missing location (approx) :
Deerfield Beach, Florida
Missing classification : Endangered Missing
Gender : Female
Ethnicity :
Hispanic
DOB : 04/06/1985 (36)
Age at the time of disappearance: 24 years old
Height / Weight : 5'0, 170 pounds
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: Hispanic female. Brown hair, brown eyes.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Garcia was last seen leaving work in Deerfield Beach, Florida on July 2, 2009. She has never been heard from again. On July 5, after she didn't show up for work, her coworkers went to her residence in the 700 block of Mermaid Drive to find out why. Garcia's boyfriend, Jason Allen, answered the door and told them she wasn't home.
Her coworkers reported her missing on July 7. Garcia left all her belongings behind in her apartment, including her wallet, purse and keys, and Allen used her credit cards after her disappearance. He told police that Garcia had moved out on July 3.
Garcia lived with Allen, their young child, and Allen's mother at the time of her disappearance. She had just deposited a $20,000 insurance settlement in the bank, and she left it all behind and never drew on the account after she was last seen. Allen admitted he had withdrawn $1,400 of the money himself, using her ATM card.
A photograph of Allen is posted with this case summary. They had a troubled relationship and argued frequently over custody of their son. Authorities considered her disappearance suspicious and searched the apartment. They found a large amount of blood in one of the rooms, as well as signs that someone had tried to clean up; the blood matched Garcia's DNA.
Allen was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in May 2010. Authorities believe he killed Garcia because she wanted primary custody of their son. He was convicted of second-degree murder in October 2013; the jury deliberated for only a little over two hours.
Foul play is suspected in Garcia's disappearance due to the circumstances involved.
Other information and links : ncy
Broward County Sheriff's Office
954-493-8477
September 2021 updates and sources
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
The Broward/Palm Beach New Times
Broward County Sheriff's Office
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Interactive Missing Person Search Map
