A woman disappeared without a trace 23 years ago. But a new ‘significant’ tip is giving her friends hope

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy For more than two decades, there has been little movement in the case of a missingNew Mexico woman who vanished from her hometown – but a recent search has attracted long-awaited attention and sparked new tips, including one that investigators say is “pretty good.” Melissa Montoya was 42 years old when she went missing on March 9, 2001, after a night out in Dulce, New Mexico, on the Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation. “And I know that the police are looking into the tip.” open image in gallery Melissa Montoya was 42 years old when she went missing on March 9, 2001 after a night out in Dulce, New Mexico, on the Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation Law enforcement officials confirmed the tip to The Independent and said it appears to be from a woman who says she heard from her significant other about an off-putting encounter he had with the suspect on the night Melissa went missing. open image in gallery An all-day search of the Colorado property ended in defeat when officials came up with nothing, leaving Melissa’s loved ones devastated Le Roux pointed out that a long period of time had passed and that his understanding is that the canines “have the ability to detect human remains in excess of 20 years.” Gomez told The Independent that she got a rundown of what happened during the search from the sheriff. “It gives me hope.” ‘Almost 24 years later, it’s finally happening for us’ Darlene Gomez has advocated for the MMIW since she went to law school, about the same time Melissa went missing, but it’s her disappearance that has always been the driving force behind what she does for others.