Car of missing mom of six found with ‘blood inside,’ Arizona family says

A 37-year-old mother of six called her family at 4 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, to say she had been stabbed in the neck, Arizona police told news outlets.

She hasn’t been seen since.

On Tuesday, officers found Irene Luevano’s gray 2007 Chevrolet Impala, but the Phoenix woman remains missing, police said.

“It is the car, but my sister’s not in the car,” Sandra Mercado, Luevano’s eldest sister, told KSAZ. “It had blood inside. We don’t know what else to think.”

Police questioned Luevano’s boyfriend and arrested him on unrelated charges, KNXV reported.

Court documents show he was driving to Mexico before returning to Phoenix, KPNX reported. He was treated at a hospital for apparent self-inflicted stab wounds.

Luevano’s family, including her six children, are trying to stay strong but are losing hope, Mercado told KSAZ.

“They’re like, ‘Why my mom? I don’t wanna lose my mom. Why does she have to leave?’” she said.

In a Facebook post, police describe Luevano as a 5-foot-4 Hispanic female weighing 180 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a black dress and black shoes.

Police ask that anyone with information call 602-262-6151 or leave an anonymous tip at Silent Witness at 480-948-6377 or 480-837-8446 for Spanish speakers.

“We just want to find her, we need peace, it’s already been three days,” Mercado told KPNX. “We just want her, now that’s going to be our next clue, to go look around and find her, to see where could she be.”

This story was originally published January 19, 2022 at 12:55 PM with the headline "Car of missing mom of six found with ‘blood inside,’ Arizona family says."