Zoe Campos was last seen three years ago, and although officials say tips and clues are leaving them empty-handed, they and her mother, Melinda Campos, remain hopeful in their search for the missing woman.

Melinda said the pain and frustrations remain as they search for answers in her daughter's disappearance.

Thursday morning, a Lubbock Police Department news release states investigators continue to receive Crime Line tips about her disappearance.

"Three years later, Lubbock Police Department investigators are still dedicated to finding Zoe and hopeful someone with information will come forward," the release states.

On Nov. 17, 2013, Lubbock police say Zoe, then 18 years old, went missing after leaving her apartment in the 3500 block of 50th Street.

The day she went missing, Zoe was last seen on surveillance video with her sister at Copper Caboose Restaurant, 5609 Ave. Q.

Afterward, officials say the two went back to Zoe's apartment, the last time a family member saw her.

A few hours later, at 1:30 a.m., Zoe's mother received a text message from Zoe telling her she was on her way to pick her up from work, but she never showed. The release states investigators were able to track the location of where the text was sent to the area of Lowrey Field near South-Central Lubbock.

Three days later, Zoe's aunt spotted her car, a silver 1997 Lincoln Town Car, being driven by an unknown male.

"She immediately began to follow the car," the release states, "but lost sight of the vehicle. A short while later, the car was found abandoned at Driftwood Apartments at 5501 Utica Ave."

In a previous interview, Melinda told A-J Media the person was observed wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt as he ran away.

The driver remains unidentified.

A month after Zoe's disappearance, officials held a news conference in which they said they believed she was in danger due to the lack of communication.

During that conference, officials said Zoe's past behavior may have put her in harm's way.

"She hardly ever did anything or went anywhere, so I don't know where this dangerous behavior came from," her mother said in a previous interview.

She described her missing daughter as a responsible young woman with ambitions of becoming a mechanic.

More importantly, she said her daughter had a limited social circle that included her sister and few friends.

Four days after she was last seen, officials expanded their search to Abilene, Austin and El Paso, based on her social media activity.

Melinda said, "It's hard always wondering, 'If I look up at the moon and at the stars, is she looking up too? Is she saying the same thing when I say 'Baby girl come home'? Is she saying 'Mom, I wanna come home. Babycakes I wanna come home.'?' That alone just drives me crazy."

"Babycakes" was Zoe's term of endearment for her mom.

The day Zoe disappeared, Melinda said she wrapped her arms around her as Zoe told her she loved her and would call her later.

Detective Adam Freeman has taken over the case, and Melinda said she commends him because the amount of false leads has been overwhelming.

"A lot of issues that we've had," she said, "were just me being a distraught mother, and me not really wanting to hear what they have to say, but three years later, they're the ones that I'm relying on. They're the ones that I feel are going to bring my daughter home."

With Abilene and Austin no longer possibilities, she said officials have not ruled out El Paso. Morton and Mexico, she said, have also been mentioned frequently as talk of Zoe being sold into human trafficking circles.

Wanting to keep her daughter's image fresh on everyone's mind, she urges people to continue to call with information.

Zoe was then described as having brown hair and brown eyes, about 5 feet tall and weighing about 100 pounds.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Line at 741-1000 or Detective Freeman at 775-2415.

Callers may remain anonymous.


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