The Chilling Case of Dawn Sandoval's Disappearance: A True Crime Mystery
Dawn Sandoval's mysterious disappearance on April 16, 2018, left her family and authorities puzzled. When her sister Anita discovered Dawn's absence, along with her purse, phone, and cars still at home, she immediately contacted the police. This unusual scenario sparked an investigation that would uncover complex personal relationships and conflicting accounts.
The investigation revealed that Dawn, a 46-year-old mother of four from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, was last seen by her twin sons when they went to bed around 10:30 PM. Her ex-husband Michael had been present that evening, though accounts differed about whether he stayed overnight. Adding another layer to this perplexing case was the revelation that Dawn had recently begun seeing another man named Harold, complicating the investigation as detectives worked to unravel the truth behind her disappearance.
Key Takeaways
Dawn Sandoval vanished from her home under mysterious circumstances with her personal belongings left behind.
Conflicting accounts emerged between Dawn's children and ex-husband about his presence on the night of her disappearance.
Investigators identified both Dawn's ex-husband Michael and her new romantic interest Harold as persons of interest in the case.
The Mysterious Vanishing
Report to Authorities
On April 16, 2018, Anita Sandoval contacted police with urgent concerns about her sister Dawn Sandoval's unexplained absence. She reported multiple troubling details that immediately raised red flags.
"Her purse is here, her phone is still connected by her bed with many missed alerts, and both her cars are present," Anita explained to authorities. This pattern of behavior was completely uncharacteristic of Dawn, a 46-year-old mother of four from Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
The responding officers arrived promptly at Dawn's residence to gather information. Dawn was described as 5'4", approximately 125 pounds, with light brown hair and notable tattoos, including a distinctive crown design on her chest.
Last Known Circumstances
Dawn's final known whereabouts centered around the evening of April 16th, when she was at home with her ex-husband Michael and their twin sons, Kevin and Ricky. The couple had finalized their divorce on February 23rd, just weeks before Dawn's disappearance.
The twins provided crucial testimony about that evening, stating their father had spent time coaching them in basketball while Dawn focused on household tasks. They recalled their mother instructing them to clean their rooms because they were trying to sell the house.
When investigators examined Dawn's bedroom, they found it in significant disarray. Her bed appeared chaotic, with her phone, purse, and personal belongings left behind - suggesting she hadn't planned to leave. Importantly, police found no evidence of forced entry at the residence.
Two significant complications emerged during initial interviews:
Conflicting accounts about Michael's presence:
The twins stated Michael was present when they went to bed around 10:30 PM
Michael allegedly told one nephew he left because Dawn was "uncomfortable" with him staying
Anita reported Michael confirmed being the last person to see Dawn
A second relationship: Investigators learned Dawn had been seeing another man named Harold Wit, adding another potential person of interest to the investigation.
The absence of Dawn Sandoval, with all personal belongings and vehicles left behind, immediately concerned both family and authorities as highly suspicious circumstances.
The Search Begins
Dawn's Disappearance Profile
Detective teams arrived quickly at Dawn Sandoval's Rio Rancho, New Mexico residence after her sister Anita reported her missing on April 16, 2018. Dawn, a 46-year-old mother of four, had vanished without a trace despite both her vehicles remaining at the property. Standing approximately 5'4" and weighing about 125 pounds, Dawn had light brown hair and distinctive tattoos, including a notable crown design on her chest. Her personal belongings—purse, phone, and other items—were still in her bedroom, with her phone showing numerous missed notifications.
The bedroom presented investigators with a chaotic scene. The bed was disheveled, and personal items appeared to have been left behind hastily. Investigators noted there were no signs of forced entry into the residence, creating a puzzling scenario that raised immediate concerns among the responding officers.
Anita's Critical Testimony
"My sister's not here and this is not like her," Anita told officers when they arrived at the scene. She explained that Dawn was well aware of her custody arrangement with her ex-husband Michael, as they shared 50/50 custody of their twin sons. Dawn would never willingly miss her scheduled time with her children.
Anita provided crucial timeline details to investigators. The twins had gone to bed around 10:30 PM the previous night with their mother present. When they awoke for school the following morning, she was nowhere to be found. Anita emphasized that Dawn maintained regular communication with family and friends, making her sudden silence highly unusual. "I know definitely she's a fighter," Anita assured officers, dismissing any possibility of self-harm.
During questioning, Anita revealed two potential persons of interest. Michael, Dawn's ex-husband whose divorce had been finalized on February 23rd, had reportedly been at the house the night before Dawn's disappearance. The twins confirmed he was present when they went to bed, but Michael later told Anita he had left because Dawn felt uncomfortable with him staying overnight. This discrepancy immediately caught investigators' attention.
Adding further complexity, Anita disclosed that Dawn "had been seeing somebody"—a man named Harold Witt, who became the second person of interest in the rapidly evolving investigation.
Family Life and Personal Relationships
Dawn's Marriage Breakdown and Child Arrangements
Dawn Sandoval, a 46-year-old mother of four from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, had recently experienced significant changes in her personal life. Her marriage of 18 years to Michael Ancensus ended with their divorce being finalized on February 23, 2018. Following their separation in December, they established a 50/50 custody arrangement for their twin sons, Kevin and Ricky.
Despite their divorce, Dawn and Michael maintained contact due to their shared parenting responsibilities. The custody schedule was structured so that each parent had designated days with the children. This arrangement was important to Dawn, who was described by her sister as a "strong fighter" who prioritized her children.
The family was also in the process of selling their house, as evidenced by Dawn instructing her children to clean their rooms to prepare for potential buyers. This transition period created additional complexity in their family dynamics during the months following the divorce.
Recent Family Gatherings
The last confirmed family interaction occurred on April 16, 2018, when Michael visited Dawn's residence. According to the twins' accounts, he spent most of the day with them, coaching basketball and later joining them for meals. The children reported that both their parents were present when they went to bed around 10:30 PM that evening.
This account conflicted with information later provided by Michael, who told Dawn's sister Anita that he hadn't stayed overnight because Dawn felt uncomfortable with this arrangement. When questioned by investigators, Michael confirmed he had been spending more time at Dawn's residence in the days leading up to April 16, stating they had been "talking things out" and "working things out more."
Notably, Dawn had begun seeing another man named Harold Wit following her divorce. This new relationship added another dimension to Dawn's personal life during this period of transition. The exact nature of where things stood between Dawn and Michael versus her relationship with Harold remained unclear at the time of her disappearance.
Evidence Collection
Dawn's Room Condition
The investigators conducted a thorough search of Dawn Sandoval's residence after her disappearance. Her bedroom presented significant evidence, appearing in complete disarray. The bed was notably disheveled, suggesting a hasty departure or possible struggle. Most concerning was the presence of Dawn's personal belongings—her purse, cell phone, and other essential items remained in the room. The phone was still connected to its charger beside her bed, containing numerous missed notifications from the day she vanished. These elements strongly indicated an unplanned absence, as most individuals wouldn't voluntarily leave without these crucial personal items.
No Signs of External Intrusion
Investigators found no evidence of forced entry at Dawn's residence, adding another layer of complexity to the case. All entry points to the home appeared secure, with no damaged locks, broken windows, or other indicators that someone had forcibly entered the property. This crucial detail suggested that either Dawn left willingly with someone she knew, or the person responsible for her disappearance had legitimate access to her home. The lack of external intrusion narrowed the investigation focus to individuals within Dawn's immediate circle who possessed authorized access to her residence, particularly those present on the night before her disappearance—April 16, 2018.
Children's Testimony
The testimonies of the children involved in this case provide critical insights into the events surrounding April 16, 2018, and the subsequent disappearance of Dawn Sandoval. Their accounts offer a timeline of activities and the presence of key individuals during the last known hours before Dawn went missing.
Events of April 16th
The twins, Kevin and Ricky, provided essential details about the day their mother disappeared. They described a relatively normal day that included basketball games in the morning followed by a meal out. According to their testimony, they returned home afterward where their mother instructed them to clean their rooms because the house was being prepared for sale.
The boys went to bed around 10:30 PM that evening. Before retiring for the night, Dawn came into their room to remind them about their cleaning responsibilities. This interaction represents one of the last confirmed sightings of Dawn before her disappearance.
The following morning, the children woke up to find their mother missing, despite her cars, purse, and cell phone still being at the residence. This unusual circumstance prompted them to contact their aunt, who subsequently reported Dawn missing to authorities.
Michael's Presence
The children's testimony regarding their father's whereabouts contradicted statements made by Michael himself. According to the twins, Michael was present at the house when they went to bed at approximately 10:30 PM on April 16th. They stated that he had spent most of the day with them, coaching them in basketball and remaining at the residence throughout the evening.
This account directly conflicts with what Michael reportedly told the children's aunt. According to her, Michael claimed Dawn had felt uncomfortable with him staying overnight and that he had left the premises. When confronted about this discrepancy, Michael's response was described as firm and dismissive.
The children's testimony places Michael as potentially the last person to see Dawn before her disappearance, a critical detail that investigators needed to reconcile with other emerging information about Dawn's relationships, including her apparent involvement with another man named Harold Wit.
Divergent Narratives
Anita's Description of Michael
Anita Sandoval's account of Michael presents troubling inconsistencies that complicate the investigation into her sister Dawn's disappearance. When speaking with investigators, Anita revealed significant discrepancies between Michael's statements and the children's testimony. She explained that Michael told her nephew he didn't stay the night at Dawn's residence because Dawn felt uncomfortable with his presence.
This directly contradicted what the twins reported to investigators - that their father was present when they went to bed around 10:30 PM. When Anita confronted Michael about being the last person to see Dawn, his response was notably terse. "I said where is she and he's like 'I don't know' just real firm about it," Anita recalled, adding that she ended the call abruptly.
Introduction of Harold
The investigation took an unexpected turn when Anita disclosed that Dawn had been romantically involved with another man. "She been like seeing somebody," Anita revealed, introducing Harold Wit as Dawn's fiancé. This revelation significantly altered the trajectory of the case.
With Harold now in the picture, investigators faced a more complex scenario involving two potential persons of interest. The previously straightforward focus on Michael as the prime suspect expanded to include Dawn's fiancé. This new information created additional layers to investigate as detectives tried to reconcile the relationships and timeline surrounding Dawn's disappearance.
Persons of Interest Under Investigation
This segment of the investigation focuses on the key individuals questioned in Dawn Sandoval's disappearance case. Authorities conducted multiple interviews to piece together the timeline of events and relationships surrounding her vanishing.
Michael's Questioning Sessions
The primary person of interest was Michael Incensus, Dawn's ex-husband. When police brought him in for questioning, Michael explained that their 18-year marriage had officially ended on February 23, 2018—less than two months before Dawn's disappearance. Their separation began in December, after which they lived apart.
Michael's account of his whereabouts during the critical period contained inconsistencies. He told investigators that he and Dawn had recently begun communicating more frequently, stating they were "working things out" and "trying to move forward." He confirmed staying at Dawn's residence on both Friday and Saturday nights before her disappearance.
The twins' testimony supported Michael's presence, as they stated he had been with them all day before the disappearance, coaching them in basketball. They mentioned going to bed around 10:30 PM with both parents in the home. However, when Dawn's sister spoke with Michael, he allegedly claimed he hadn't stayed overnight because Dawn felt uncomfortable with the arrangement—directly contradicting what the children reported.
Exploring Harold's Connection with Dawn
Investigators encountered an unexpected complication when Dawn's sister revealed another significant relationship in Dawn's life. "She'd been seeing somebody," she told police, identifying the man as Harold Witt. This revelation introduced a second person of interest in the investigation.
Harold's presence created a more complex relationship dynamic that investigators needed to unravel. With Dawn simultaneously rekindling communication with her ex-husband while maintaining a relationship with Harold, authorities now faced a more intricate web of interpersonal connections.
The addition of Harold to the investigation broadened the scope of inquiry substantially. Investigators now needed to determine both men's movements, motivations, and potential involvement in Dawn's disappearance. This development transformed what initially appeared to be a straightforward missing person case into a much more complicated investigation with multiple potential scenarios.
