Surveillance cameras caught her getting into a truck outside a casino. It was the last confirmed sighting of her alive.
Background
Carina Saunders, a 2010 graduate of Mustang High School in Oklahoma, had struggled with substance abuse and had recently completed a rehab program in September 2011. Her mother said Carina appeared to be doing better in the days before her disappearance.
The Disappearance
Carina was last confirmed in contact with family on September 28, 2011. Witnesses reported seeing her over the following days at an apartment complex and, on October 8, on surveillance footage at a casino in Newcastle, Oklahoma, getting into a pickup truck. That footage is the last confirmed sighting of her alive. Her mother filed a missing person report on October 10.
The Discovery
On October 13, 2011, Carina's remains were found behind a grocery store in Bethany, Oklahoma, roughly 20 miles from where she was last seen. Investigators believed she had been killed elsewhere and her remains moved to the location where they were found. Evidence at the scene indicated she had been restrained and had drugs in her system at the time of death. We are not detailing further specifics of her injuries.
The Investigation
In 2012, two men, Jimmy Massey and Luis Ruiz, were charged in connection with Carina's death based on witness statements alleging they were involved in a criminal group with ties to trafficking. However, the credibility of key witnesses came into question over time, and in February 2013, all charges against Massey and Ruiz were dropped due to insufficient evidence.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation later took over the case and shifted focus toward other individuals in Carina's life around the time of her disappearance, though no charges have been filed against anyone else to date. A reward for information, and later for any video evidence connected to the case, has been offered by investigators and private donors over the years.
Where the Case Stands
More than a decade later, Carina Saunders' murder remains unsolved. Investigators have continued to follow new leads and tips, and the case remains part of Oklahoma's active cold case files.
FAQ
Has anyone been convicted of killing Carina Saunders?
No. Two men were charged in 2012, but all charges were dropped in 2013 due to insufficient evidence, and no one else has been charged since.
When was Carina Saunders last seen alive?
Surveillance footage from a Newcastle, Oklahoma, casino on October 8, 2011, is the last confirmed sighting of her.
Is there a reward for information in this case?
Yes. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has maintained a reward for information leading to a resolution of the case.