Investigators follow leads in missing mom case

Investigators on Wednesday found nothing in an abandoned mine shaft they searched for a Carson City mother who has been missing almost four months.

"An investigative lead came up and we've been checking different areas of Lyon County, Carson City and again Churchill County and found nothing," said Carson City Sgt. Steve Johnson, lead investigator. "This is still an actively open case and we are investigating. Everything we do is pretty much predicated on what we collect as leads. The public has been a great assistance."

Bertha Anguiano, 33, was last seen Nov. 10 about 8 a.m. dropping off her 6-year-old son at Empire Elementary School in Carson City. Her youngest son, 3-year-old Andrew, was found 90 minutes later bloodied and abandoned 15 miles from home behind a Dayton grocery store.

He told police he witnessed his mother's killing at the hands of her alleged lover, Israel "Juan Carlos" Tellez.

A forensic test revealed the blood found on Andrew's clothing possibly belonged to the married mother of three. When approached by police in Salt Lake City, Tellez allegedly pulled a gun on officers.

Tellez, who remains in the Salt Lake County Jail, is scheduled for a March 16-17 trial in Utah District Court on two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a dangerous weapon and carrying a concealed dangerous weapon.

Forensic testing of Tellez's truck found blood that may also belong to Anguiano.

Search and rescue crews from Carson and Lyon counties have scoured the desert between Carson City and Fallon where Tellez was known to be on the afternoon of Anguiano's disappearance.

Anyone with information on Anguiano's whereabouts, or who may have seen something suspicious, is asked to call the Carson City Sheriff's Department at 887-2020 extension 1400.

Contact F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.