Missing woman reportedly found alive in Mexico, but her family has doubts

PHOENIX (KPHO/Gray News) — Mexican authorities said a missing Arizona woman was believed to have been found in Tijuana, but family members say they have doubts.

Shayna Feinman, 35, was reported missing in March 2024.

A Tijuana security force said Feinman was found on Oct. 23 after reports of a woman matching her description in an Encino neighborhood.

The security force said the woman was confirmed to be Feinman, but Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office officials initially said they couldn’t independently confirm her identity because of “insufficient evidence.”

Feinman’s sister Kara added that she did not recognize the person in Mexico and didn’t have hard evidence that the person was indeed her sister.

Kara said this wasn’t the first time Feinman was reported to have been spotted.

Feinman’s sister called these types of reports with little evidence from law enforcement agencies disheartening to the family.

Tijuana officials said they took the woman in question to a safe location to await contact with the Feinman family and U.S. authorities.

Details were not immediately shared about how Feinman may have ended up in Mexico.

Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies said Feinman vanished without a trace on March 9, 2024, while walking to a friend’s house.

Two men were arrested in connection with her disappearance in 2024. Loved ones said they have been holding onto hope of her return.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office updated its investigation, stating that the woman in Tijuana was indeed believed to not be the missing woman.