Isabella Comas, a 21-year-old woman recognized by her vibrant pink hair, vanished under circumstances that have deeply alarmed authorities and the public in Avondale, Arizona. On January 11, 2026, she was last seen leaving a friend’s residence near West Van Buren Street and North 111th Avenue around 3 p.m. She drove away in her red 2011 Hyundai Sonata (Arizona license plate 2EA6LW), wearing a baggy navy-blue shirt, blue pants with a white stripe, and possibly sandals. At 5 feet 3 inches tall and approximately 110 pounds, with brown eyes, Comas had plans to pick up her friend for work the next day but never arrived. She also failed to show up at her own job and became completely unreachable by phone, prompting immediate concern.

The disappearance escalated quickly. On January 12, her friend reported her missing after multiple failed attempts to make contact. By January 13, investigators located Comas’ Hyundai Sonata and cell phone near the intersection of 67th Avenue and Indian School Road in Phoenix—roughly 10 miles from her last known location. The phone was described by authorities as “randomly planted” near a recycling center, a detail that immediately raised red flags. The deliberate placement of the device—rather than it being lost, stolen, or destroyed—suggested intent to mislead or distance the investigation from the true location of events. Combined with the vehicle’s abandonment miles away, these discoveries pointed toward foul play rather than a voluntary departure or simple misadventure.

Surveillance footage released on January 14 captured Comas inside a QuikTrip convenience store, dressed in a white t-shirt with a black logo. The images show her appearing calm and unaware of any impending danger, making the sudden silence that followed even more unsettling. No further confirmed sightings have surfaced since that moment.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety issued a Turquoise Alert on January 13, activating the state’s emergency notification system created for missing endangered adults under 65 when standard protocols fall short and danger appears likely. Named in honor of Emily Pike, a missing Indigenous teenager whose remains were tragically found earlier in 2025, the Turquoise Alert broadens the reach beyond child-focused Amber Alerts, targeting cases involving unexplained disappearances with indicators of risk. The alert remains active as of January 19, 2026, calling on the public to provide any information that could lead to Comas’ safe return.

The investigation intensified with the arrest of Tommy Rodriguez, 39, Comas’ boyfriend, who was named a person of interest. Rodriguez was taken into custody on January 15 on charges including theft of means of transportation (related to the vehicle), criminal damage, and probation violation. In court, prosecutors presented “strong evidence” connecting him to the stolen car and classified him as an “extreme flight risk.” During his appearance, Rodriguez stated, “My girlfriend came up missing,” and insisted he was “not trying to hide amid the investigation.” He remains held without bond.

Rodriguez’s criminal history has significantly heightened concern. Court records show he was convicted at age 15 of fatally shooting a man during a robbery, serving an 18-year prison sentence before his release. Later convictions include assault with a weapon and, in 2020, stalking and assaulting an ex-girlfriend. The 2020 stalking charge has drawn particular scrutiny from investigators and observers, as it potentially indicates a pattern of obsessive, controlling, or violent behavior that could be relevant to Comas’ disappearance.

Avondale Police Department leads the multi-agency effort in close cooperation with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and Arizona Department of Public Safety. Detectives have described public tips received so far as “extremely helpful” in advancing the case. No motive has been publicly confirmed, and initial court documents keep specific charges sealed, though they clearly relate to aspects of the disappearance investigation. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information to contact them immediately, stressing the urgency given the suspicious circumstances surrounding the abandoned phone and vehicle.

The “randomly planted” phone near the recycling center stands out as especially disturbing. The intentional placement—rather than accidental loss or destruction—suggests someone wanted to create distance between Comas’ last known location and any potential crime scene. Paired with the car’s abandonment 10 miles away, these actions imply premeditation or an attempt to obscure the trail rather than a spontaneous event.

The broader context underscores the importance of Arizona’s Turquoise Alert in mobilizing rapid community awareness for vulnerable missing adults. Unlike Amber Alerts, which require evidence of child abduction, Turquoise Alerts activate when endangerment appears probable but details remain unclear—allowing broader public engagement without stricter criteria. Its deployment here reflects investigators’ assessment that Comas may be in immediate danger.

The Phoenix-area community has responded with widespread concern and solidarity. Social media has overflowed with shared flyers, photos of Comas’ bright pink hair and warm smile, and urgent pleas for information. Friends describe her as outgoing, dependable, and full of life, making her sudden silence deeply out of character. The failure to follow through on simple plans—picking up her friend for work—served as the initial trigger for reporting her missing.

As the investigation enters its second week, pressure continues to build. Detectives are reviewing surveillance, following leads, and examining Rodriguez’s movements, communications, and associations. The sealed nature of charges against him limits public knowledge, yet the flight-risk designation and documented history of violence keep concern elevated. Whether Comas left voluntarily, met with harm, or was taken against her will remains unknown, but the combination of her abrupt disappearance, strategically abandoned property, and Rodriguez’s background fuels fears of the worst possible outcome.

The Turquoise Alert continues to serve as both a call for help and a beacon of hope. Every shared post, every remembered detail, every potential sighting could prove decisive. Isabella Comas remains missing, her absence a painful void felt by family, friends, and an entire community desperate for answers. In the relentless desert heat of Avondale and Phoenix, the search persists—driven by urgency, sustained by public awareness, and anchored in the desperate hope that she will be found alive and safe.