AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – When 14-year-old Jessica Delgadillo was reported missing by her family in October 2010, investigators with the Amarillo Police Department began to search for her in an effort that would continue long after her case grew cold.

When her cold case was officially closed after more than 13 years, it wasn’t because the Amarillo police had located her. Rather, it was because she gave them a call.

The Amarillo Police Department announced on Thursday that Delgadillo’s cold case had been closed after the search for her that had persisted since her family reported she had not returned home from school in 2010. Eventually, her case was turned over to the department’s Homicide Unit after it grew cold, and was revisited after the Amarillo PD established its Cold Case Unit in 2023.

“It was my belief that due to the fact the information that was being pushed out that a young lady had seen this information, and she called the Amarillo Police Department and said that her name was Jessica Delgadillo and that she knew that she had been missing,” said Lt. James Clements homicide unit commander.

With the opening of its Cold Case Unit, the Amarillo PD said that its investigators focused on three cold cases involving missing children from Amarillo: Delgadillo’s case, as well as those of Dorien Thomas and Brandy Noble.

“We did the exact same information, the age progression, but we did everything exactly the same on the Dorien Thomas and the Brandy Noble case,” said Clements. “Fortunately, Jessica was able to hear this information and call. We’re still working very hard on both of those cases, we haven’t stopped, we’re continuously updating those cases. Any information or tips we get we follow through with all tips all the information every time so no, we’re still looking at those cases.”

During that process, police collaborated with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and its Team Adam representatives to help with the renewed investigations. According to police, investigators and the Team Adam representatives went through each case to update information and sent out details to social platforms across the United States, including age progression photos and disappearance details.

In November 2023, Amarillo police said they received a call from a woman advising that she was Delgadillo and that she knew she had been reported missing. Delgadillo’s identity was confirmed after DNA swabs were collected and tested through the University of North Texas.

“We were extremely excited to hear the news that she had contacted us and that we could contact the family and give them closure,” said Clements. “We’ve talked to Jessica several times, she’s doing very well, where she’s at.”

While Delgadillo requested her location and the details of her disappearance not be released to the public, the Amarillo police did note that she is currently living on the East Coast.

“This case can finally be closed with closure for the family,” said the Amarillo PD in its update.

Delgadillo’s case was one of nearly 50 that the Amarillo police said would be the focus of its Cold Case Unit when it was established in 2022, with unsolved cases dating back to the 1950s. Anyone with new information regarding an unsolved case was asked to call the department at 806-378-9446 or submit a tip anonymously online or through the P3 Tips App.