Orange County girl missing since custody dispute, family fears Mexico tie

A $5,000 reward is now being offered for 4-year-old Alexandra De La Mora Gomez, missing from New Hampton since Nov. 24, 2024, after authorities say her mother took her during a custody dispute and may have brought her to Mexico. Police and the family are asking anyone with information to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division, the FBI tip line or the family directly.

Alexandra was last seen leaving her New Hampton apartment with her mother, Yahaira De La Mora Gomez, and authorities say Michael LaMarca has full custody of the child under a family court order. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office says Yahaira De La Mora Gomez is wanted on an arrest warrant after missing a court appearance tied to the custody case. The FBI is also involved as the search continues into a second year.

The case has shaken the LaMarca family, who say they have gone more than a year without answers about whether Alexandra is safe, eating or sleeping. Nancy LaMarca, the child’s grandmother, has joined the effort to keep the case in public view as the reward grows and investigators continue to ask for leads that could bring the girl home.

Earlier reports showed investigators believed Yahaira De La Mora Gomez may have had ties to Florida, California, Ecuador and Mexico. In January 2025, authorities said there was no evidence the family had crossed the border or taken a flight, even though surveillance video showed them leaving with packed bags in a white Nissan Pathfinder that was later located with its registered owner in New York. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children later said Alexandra may have traveled to Middletown in Orange County or Hardeeville, South Carolina.

The missing-child case has drawn in the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse, Orange County Child Protective Services, Homeland Security, the FBI and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Alexandra’s older half-brother, Alexander, is not considered missing because his mother has custody of him. Federal AMBER Alert data show the system had recovered 1,292 children as of Dec. 18, 2025, underscoring the scale of the national response when a child disappears under urgent circumstances.