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Why would she walk away from all of that? That's the question that hangs in the air as family members who had gotten
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word about her being missing start arriving. Like Melissa's parents and her brother, her sister Trudy, and Trudy's
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daughter Jasmine. Melissa's parents, Jose and Joanne Mondragon, live nearby. Although they had been in Albuquerque
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visiting Trudy that day. But once they heard what was going on from Sierra, they were in the car. And these are
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long-time Crime Junkie listeners. So even in shock, they said that they felt like they were prepared and knew what to
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do. They worked the phones during the 2 and 1/2 hour drive to Taos, calling relatives and hospitals hoping that
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Melissa would be home safe by the time that they got there. Instead, they pulled up to a property bathed in police
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lights. And they were told to wait outside away from Mark and Sierra. Now, they don't believe for a second that
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Melissa left on her own. Something bad must have happened. And they already have someone in mind. Diego Martinez,
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who is Sierra's ex-boyfriend. Now, Diego had been behind the wheel in the crash that killed Sierra's best friend. He
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suffered a traumatic brain injury in the crash, and according to the family, his
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behavior became frightening. In 2024, Sierra took out a restraining order against him citing physical abuse,
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break-ins, stolen keys, and threats against her and loved ones, including specific threats against Melissa. Diego
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had also sent Melissa sexually explicit text messages. And did Mark and Sierra bring him up at any point, too? Not that
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I know of.