Missing North California Couple Was Intoxicated And Speeding, Says Police

Authorities in Wilmington, North Carolina are claiming that Stephanie Mayorga and Paige Escalera, the couple who went missing last month, were intoxicated before crashing their car.

The 27-year-old Mayorga and 25-year-old Escalera were reported missing by their roommate on April 15. On May 4, police found Escalera's gray 2013 Dodge Dart deep in the woods off the intersection of Independence Boulevard and River Road, the Wilmington, North Carolina Police said in a Facebook post.

“The Dodge Dart was hidden in an area of thick vegetation, partially submerged in a swamp with only a small section of the roof visible from up above. Officers had to use a machete to cut a path to the vehicle,” according to the New York Daily News, citing the police statement.

The discovery of Escalera's car also led to officials finding two bodies inside. However, due to the effects of decomposition, they were not able to identify the bodies at the time. Dental records and visible tattoos later led the medical investigator to identify Mayorga as the driver and Escalera as the passenger.

Both women died from traumatic head and chest injuries.

Police said in a news release that they had received a 911 call where a witness reported that a car was traveling at high speed and ran through a stop sign before crashing nearly six and a half miles from the women's apartment.

There were no obvious signs of a car wreck when police arrived at the scene save for a “faint tire imprint near the curb” and “scuff marks on the curb itself.”

It was only when they returned to the previously searched site that the police were able to find the vehicle and the couple's bodies. They also found several open and empty bottles of beer inside. Investigators said the women bought a 12-pack from a convenience store roughly one hour before the crash. Surveillance photos also captured one of the women holding a beer bottle as they exited their apartment.

They also believe that the car was traveling 103 miles per hour before hitting the curb and going airborne, said People.

“This crash happened in the blink of an eye. From the time the vehicle hit the curb to the time of the collision, only 0.99 seconds elapsed,” added the statement.

Data from Escalera's car also showed that Mayorga hit the brakes just as it hit the curb, which explains the lack of skid marks. The car's battery also broke in half on impact, shutting off any sounds or lights that could have been valuable for rescuers. The thick vegetation also hid the taillights, preventing “any reflection under a searchlight.”