The Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that human remains discovered earlier this year have been positively identified as those of 59-year-old Maria Del Carmen Quintana, who was reported missing in 2018.
Maria was last seen on November 30, 2018, in the Nehalem/Highway 53 area of Tillamook County. Following her disappearance, her family, alongside members of the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) Team, conducted extensive searches and exhausted all available efforts in trying to locate her.
On May 28, 2025, partial remains were discovered in a heavily wooded area not far from Maria’s home. TCSO Detectives immediately conducted a cursory search of the site, and search dogs were later deployed to assist. No additional remains or evidence were recovered. After careful examination, the remains were confirmed to be those of Maria Del Carmen Quintana.
“Our hearts are with Maria’s family as they receive this difficult news,” said Sheriff Joshua Brown. “We are grateful for the tireless efforts of our SAR volunteers, deputies, and community members who never stopped searching. While this may not bring the answers we had hoped for, we hope it provides some measure of closure.”
The Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to Maria’s family and friends.