Pacheco was last seen in Modesto, California on July 7, 1996. She was last seen after going to church. She made a call when she got home, but did not reply to a wake up call from a friend at 04. 00. Pacheco had asked the friend to make the call so she could get her housework done before starting her shift at the Valley Fresh Inc. plant in Turlock at 07. 00. Pacheco's husband told police he saw her early in the morning of July 8 in a parking lot near Crow's landing in Modesto, when Maria gave him the couples four year old daughter. He had taken their other four children to visit family in Tijuana the week before. Pacheco and her husband were separated at the time. Pacheco opened a bank account with cash two days prior to her disappearance. Despite having a very routine life style, Maria failed to show up for work and has never picked up her paycheck. She would typically call and visit friends, family and church almost daily. Her vehicle was recovered abandoned on July 16, a few blocks away from where she was reportedly last seen. Her identification was also recovered. Police suspect foul play.