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Podcast examines disappearance and murder of two San Miguel children

November 11, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

Two young girls vanished from San Miguel in 1980 and were later found murdered. The case went cold for decades — until San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s detective Clint Cole began digging into the unsolved murders.

A riveting broadcast by “Crime Junkie Podcast” examines the case and the ongoing investigation by the same detective who solved the Kristin Smart murder case.

On May 17, 1980, 4-year-old Martha Mezo and 5-years-old Teresa Flores disappeared from Mission Street in San Miguel. The naked bodies of the girls were later discovered at Camp Roberts. Both girls were strangled, one was sexually assaulted. No one was ever charged.

Cole has reopened the case, is examining DNA evidence, and is closer than ever to solving the case.

 


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According to the Crime Junkie Podcast, the girl’s bodies were found shallowly buried in the sandy riverbed of the Salinas River near a bridge on Camp Roberts property, not Camp San Luis (Obispo).


Huge respect and thanks are owed to Detective Clint Cole and any others who are working to solve this horrendous crime and serve justice upon the unspeakably evil monster who so heinously killed these two innocent young angels. What a shame that their memory and loss wasn’t kept more in the news and social media like it was for Kristin Smart. Perhaps the mystery of Martha’s and Teresa’s horrific murders would have been solved sooner. Rest in peace by the side of God, young angels.


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I remember this!! I was 23 and living in Atascadero at the time. Ihave looked it up throughout the years to see if it was still as open case and if any progress has been made. It’s the most heinous crime. My take is that back in 1980, San Miguel was a dusty little ag town with a mostly Hispanic/Mexican population. Law enforcement did not give the investigation the attention it should have. The girls parents were Spanish speaking and back then racism was accepted. These girls and their families deserve justice. So glad this podcast is shedding new light. I have no doubt that the perpetrator has done this again, probably in Mexico or wherever he fled. Monsters like this don’t stop.Hope he’s still alive to face justice.


8

“Back then racism was accepted” . What a dumb statement .


10

Yes, the population of San Miguel has grown to 2,956 residents but it’s still a dusty little ag town 80 percent are hispanic. Are you implying that somehow racism played a part in the investigation or lack of. Then you state the perpetrator has fled to Mexico. Why, the girls bodies were found on camp Roberts north of San Miguel, so a military person could be responsible.


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