Adolescent Love, Jealousy, and Hatred Cost Another Promising Life

The Murder of Micaela "Mickey" Costanzo

Micaela Costanzo was 16 when she was brutally murdered.

Everyone who loved Micaela Costanzo called her Mickey. She was the youngest of three Costanzo girls. Micaela lived with her mother and middle sister in West Wendover, Elko County, Nevada.

She studied at West Wendover High School. Micaela was a member of the school basketball team and a track star. She was a pretty girl and a popular student at the school.

Micaela loved to write. Her mother remembered Micaela as a child who always thought positively. She had a close relationship with her middle sister. Micaela would text her every move with her mother throughout the day.

She Did Not Come Home

Her usual ride home from school was with her elder sister. On March 3, 2011, her sister was out of town. So Micaela had to walk home. Her home wasn’t far from the school.

However, Micaela’s mother became concerned when she didn’t receive any updates from Micaela that day after school. When she called Micaela’s phone, it went unanswered. Her mother returned from work to find out if Micaela was home.

Only Micaela’s middle sister was at home. When her mother didn't know, the sister always knew where Micaela was. Yet, on that day, the sister didn't know anything either.

The mother called Micaela’s friends and her elder sister. Yet, they also have not heard from Micaela. The night was falling, and there was still no sign from Micaela. Her mother then reported her missing.

Meanwhile, many volunteers helped search for Micaela. The West Wendover police department immediately launched an investigation.

Micaela was last seen leaving her school's back door around 5:00 p.m. Detectives checked her phone records. At the time of her disappearance, one number popped up many times.

It was from another student named Kody Patten. Detectives questioned him. He said he last saw Micaela with her boyfriend in front of the school.

Detectives questioned the boyfriend, who said Micaela was fine that day. However, detectives had their doubts about the number that emerged. The pattern of calls and text messages ended after she disappeared.

Many search parties scoured the area and the desert around the city. Two days later, one of the searchers saw strange tire tracks in the desert. The area was the gravel pits.

The tire tracks led to a spot of loose soil on the ground. Along with the soil was fresh blood. When the police dug up the scene, they found Micaela's body in a shallow grave.

Micaela had been fatally beaten and stabbed. Her throat had been cut. A plastic tie was found around her arm, suggesting the killer had brought Micaela there against her will. Detectives concluded that the motive for the murder was personal.

Had She Ever Felt Threatened by Him?