(Estherville)– Remains found in Mexico have been positively identified as those of a missing Estherville woman. Her husband has been charged in her death and is being held in Mexico.
Estherville Police Chief Eric Milburn says dental records were used to confirm the remains are those of Tina Conde, who went missing a little more than a year ago.
Authorities say Tina and her husband, Joaquin Conde, moved from Estherville to Michigan in 2003. A child was left behind with Tina’s mother, Sandy Triggs.
On November 3rd, 2003 Triggs told police she hadn’t heard from her daughter for more than a week and was concerned for her well-being. Her name wasn’t entered into a National Crime Information Center data base at the time, but photos were sent to the U-S Border Patrol in Texas.
Estherville police entered Tina Conde as a missing person in late November, 2003 after Triggs told officers she thought her daughter was in danger.
Milburn says his department started receiving conflicting information about the case in September. After getting numerous calls and sorting information from various sources, he says it was determined the remains of Conde may have been found by a Mexican farmer in December, 2003. Mexican authorities visited the scene and photos of the remains were forwarded to the FBI and Border Patrol.
Milburn says Joaquin Conde submitted a written confession regarding the circumstances of his wife’s death. He’s currently being held by Mexican authorities.
