Missing
Melissa Ortiz-Rodriguez
Melissa, approximately 2013
Date and time person was reported missing : 04/19/2013
Missing location (approx) :
Collingdale, Pennsylvania
Missing classification : Endangered Missing
Gender : Female
Ethnicity :
Hispanic
Age at the time of disappearance: 31 years old
Height / Weight : 5'2 - 5'5, 130 - 150 pounds
Medical conditions : A yellow flowered dress or gray pajama pants and a t-shirt.
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: Hispanic female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Melissa wears eyeglasses. Some Age at the time of disappearance: ncies refer to her as Melissa Rodriguez.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Melissa was last seen leaving home in the 400 block of Lafayette Avenue in Collingdale, Pennsylvania on April 19, 2013. She planned to take a train to Newark, New Jersey to visit a friend for the weekend, but never arrived there and has never been heard from again. Her estranged husband, Jose Rodriguez, said he didn't hear from her all weekend, and she didn't respond when he sent her a text messAge at the time of disappearance: on April 21. He reported her missing on the 23rd.
Melissa and Jose were separated at the time of her disappearance. Their marriAge at the time of disappearance: was troubled; the police had been to the home multiple times in response to domestic disputes, and Melissa found out Jose had had a child by another woman. She herself was seeing another man, and told her family she wanted a divorce. Melissa filed for a protection order in February 2013, but withdrew it two weeks later.
Jose now lives in New Jersey with the couple's two daughters. He maintains his innocence in his wife's disappearance. Police stated Jose had been uncooperative in the investigation and gave contradictory stories as to when he last saw Melissa and what she was wearing.
Melissa didn't have a credit card at the time of her disappearance, and she left her car behind at home. She was due to start a new job on April 22 and was excited about it. It's uncharacteristic of her to leave without warning. Her case remains unsolved.
Other information and links : ncy
Collingdale Police Department
610-586-0502
Delaware County Sheriff's Department
610-891-4700
September 2021 updates and sources
The Philadelphia Daily News
KTVU 2
CBS San Francisco
The Contra Costa Times
The Daily Mail
NBC Philadelphia
Interactive Missing Person Search Map
