ESPANOLA, N.M. (KRQE) – As the search for Renezmae Calzada continues into Tuesday, the community is coming out in force to find her.
Five-year-old Calzada was last seen Sunday morning outside of her home in Española. Investigators have not provided any updates in the case since Monday afternoon, after canceling a news conference Tuesday afternoon due to a lack of new information.
Meanwhile, members of the community say they’re doing what they can to help this investigation by reminding others of the ongoing search.
A volunteer, Maria Gutierrez helped hang yellow ribbons throughout Española Tuesday.
“We can’t really be out there you know, doing the groundwork that law enforcement is doing, but we want to show them our support too,” Gutierrez said.
Another community member, Yezenia Lastra, helped hand out dozens of missing flyers to people at a major intersection Tuesday afternoon while holding a sign asking for prayer.
“You see the community come together for the sake of this little girl,” said Lastra.
Staff from the local Dollar General store also donated water and supplies to family and friends who were in search of Renezmae Tuesday.
Volunteers used ATVs and trucks to search the area west of the city, near 31 Mile Road. Several of those participating in the search declined to interview with KRQE News 13, requesting privacy for the family.
Investigators continue to search the entire Española area, from the river to ravines, and the neighborhood where she went missing. The Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office continues to ask anyone with information to contact them at 505-753-3329, or main dispatch at 505-753-5555, option #7.
Stepfather Detained For Questioning
KRQE News 13 is also learning more about Renezmae’s stepfather, Malcolm Torres, who was taken into custody for questioning.
Torres is essentially the girl’s stepdad. He’s not married to her mom, but they have a young son together.
Just last month, Renezmae’s mom filed for child support from Torres for their toddler son, but investigators aren’t saying if they were together Sunday.
Investigators have not said if Torres was at the house Sunday at all, but KRQE News 13 has learned the home where Renezmae was last seen is Torres’ family’s home.
Last October, Torres was arrested at the home he shared with the girl’s mom, Victoria Maestas, their young son, and Renezmae on Arch Lane in Española. Victoria had marks on her neck and face and a split lip.
She said Torres attacked her in the middle of the night after accusing her of cheating. The case was dismissed for some reason. Technically, he’s behind bars now for failing to pay fines on two of his three DWI convictions and failure to meet with a probation officer.
Torres’ latest DWI conviction stems from an Albuquerque case featured on KRQE News 13 last year. In that case, Torres was yanked out of a car on Central outside of Presbyterian Hospital by a Good Samaritan who saw him driving drunk.
On his Facebook page, Torres says he works at the Nambe warehouse in Española. The company, which makes housewares, says it fired him because of his lackluster work ethic.
