Missing Sacramento Woman Found Dead: Police

SACRAMENTO, CA — The Sacramento woman who was declared missing Tuesday was found dead on the side of a road in Placer County Thursday evening. The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office has given a preliminary ruling of homicide. Detectives do not believe this was a random murder. A person of interest is in custody on unrelated criminal charges pending forensic testing.

Janet Mejia, 28, was reported missing by her roommate Tuesday evening. Detectives were initially told Mejia had a doctor’s appointment in Stockton that day and never arrived. Detectives learned Mejia left her family’s residence in Stockton Monday morning. She was driving back to Sacramento, and was scheduled to work at 4 p.m. She never showed up for work.

Wednesday afternoon, deputies located Mejia’s vehicle abandoned in the Arden-Arcade area. According to family and friends, Mejia’s disappearance was out of the ordinary for her, and she was usually in constant contact with her family.

Just before 7 p.m. Thursday, homicide investigators located an unidentified deceased female just off the roadway in the area of Watt Avenue and Dyer Lane in Placer County. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy, and positively identified the victim as Mejia. Preliminary autopsy findings showed Mejia suffered from a gunshot wound and was a victim of homicide.

Detectives are asking anyone with information relating to this incident, to please contact the Sheriff’s Department at (916) 874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP. Tip information may also be left anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).

Photo via Sacramento County Sheriff's Office