TILLAMOOK, OR — The Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that human remains discovered in May have been identified as those of 59-year-old Maria Del Carmen Quintana, who was reported missing in 2018.

Quintana was last seen on November 30, 2018, in the Nehalem and Highway 53 area. After her disappearance, family members and the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team carried out extensive searches but were unable to locate her.

On May 28, 2025, partial remains were found in a heavily wooded area not far from Quintana’s home. Detectives conducted an immediate search of the site, later bringing in search dogs, but no further remains or evidence were recovered. Forensic examination confirmed the remains belonged to Quintana.

Sheriff Joshua Brown expressed condolences to the family, stating, “Our hearts are with Maria’s family as they receive this difficult news. 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.”