Left: Mary circa, 1979
Right: Age Progressed to age 42
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: September 22, 1979
Missing From: Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: March 2, 1970
Age: 9 years old
Height and Weight: 5’3″ and 100 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Hispanic Female, Brown hair, Brown eyes
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A red halter top
NCMEC Number: 603133
Details of Disappearance
Mary Lou Sena was last seen in Albuquerque, New Mexico on September 22nd 1979. She was last seen with her cousin, Billy Sena, in the area of Edith Road and the 300 block of Mountain Road northeast in Martineztown neighborhood at approximately 10:00 am. The pair left to go to the post office to play in the grass and never returned. Neither child has been seen or heard from since that time.
While the circumstances of the Sena children’s disappearance are unclear, authorities have developed various theories in their disappearances. None of these theories have ever come to a conclusion in the case, however.
In 2011, authorities stated they had identified a person of interest in the case. The person of interest is Michael Cordova, whom was the live in boyfriend of Billy’s mother at the time. Billy’s sister stated that Cordova was a drug dealer and grew marijuana in the backyard of the family home. She remembers that shortly before the children disappeared, one of Cordova’s plants disappeared and he blamed Billy for the missing plant. He severely beat the boy.
Authorities are trying to find and question Cordova in connection to the disappearance and also stated they are looking for a woman named, Liza Ramirez, who lived with the children in their home one 1979.
Authorities have theorized that the children may have runaway of had been abducted and possibly killed. They at one point considered that both children got locked into a rail car while playing. There were rumors that both children had been slain and were buried in the basement of a house in the Martineztown area. None of these possibilities have been confirmed.
At the time of her disappearance, Mary Lou was a 4th grader at Longfellow Elementary School and Billy was a 6th grader at Truman Middle School. Most of the children’s relatives have passed away but Billy’s sister and Mary Lous mother are still alive.
Their cases remain unsolved and are classified as non-family abductions.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Albuquerque Police Department 505-242-2677
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children