Farmington police seek help finding missing 11-year-old Darlene Molina

Farmington police were asking for help finding 11-year-old Darlene Molina, who was last seen Monday near Childhaven at 807 W. Apache St., close to Apache Elementary School, and was believed to be heading toward Brookhaven Park. She was described as 4 feet, 5 inches tall, about 98 pounds, with brown eyes and long brown hair, and she was last seen wearing a pink short-sleeve shirt, blue jeans and purple shoes. Anyone with information was asked to call non-emergency dispatch at 505-334-6622 and reference case number 2026-12566.

The search focused on a tightly defined stretch of Farmington where the city’s own park and trail listings put Brook Haven East at 805 W. Apache Street and Brook Haven West at 901 Glade Lane. Brook Haven East is listed as a 0.32-mile, grade 1 trail with a lighted path, while Brook Haven West is listed as a 0.26-mile trail with stairs, a lighted path and nearby street parking. The city also lists Brook Haven Park - West at 901 Glade Ln. with a walking trail, basketball court, play structures and open space.

Police said they were treating the case as a missing juvenile or runaway matter and released Darlene’s description to help anyone who might have seen her moving through the neighborhood. The route between Childhaven, Apache Elementary School and the Brook Haven parks gives residents a concrete area to check, especially around sidewalks, trail entrances and nearby streets in that corridor of northwest Farmington.

The Farmington Police Department describes itself as an internationally accredited agency committed to community safety, and the New Mexico Department of Public Safety says its Missing Persons Information Clearinghouse is the central state repository for missing-person information. The state directs anyone with information to contact local law enforcement or New Mexico State Police. For San Juan County families, that means even small details, a sighting near Apache Street, a clothing color, a direction of travel, can move quickly into the public safety system and help close the gap between the last known location and the next confirmed lead.