On Dec. 29, 2003, Orange County Sheriff’s detectives were called to Taylor Creek Road in Christmas, Florida, after landscape workers found human remains in the rural area.
Detectives determined the remains were the result of a homicide, but for 20 years, they only had a forensic reconstructive sketch of the victim.
Then, in 2023, with a grant from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, detectives used genetic genealogy testing to identify the victim.
In 2024, the medical examiner named the victim 26-year-old Holly Rose Leavines Garcia.
“Holly Garcia was a wife and mother at the time,” said Det. Chelsey Koepsell with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit. “She resided on the east side of Orlando. In 2002, we believe she resided at Palm Bay Apartments, over off South Semoran Boulevard, and we believe that she also resided at Hollowbrook Apartments off Curry Ford Road. We believe that she lived there in 2003.”
But with no leads and not knowing who the victim was at the time detectives are now starting from scratch.
Deputies say Holly Garcia was married to Miguel Angel Garcia Rivera, a man whose whereabouts are unknown, and detectives are hoping to track him down.
“We don’t believe the area where the human remains were found is where the crime was committed,” Garcia said. “We believe this is the area where the victim was brought after the victim was killed.”
Garcia was also never reported missing.
Orange County Sheriff’s Office detectives are seeking the public’s help to solve this case.
If you knew Garcia or have any information about her life or circumstances surrounding her death, call the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit at 407-836-4357 or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.