DNA Identifies Hemet Teen in Salton City Remains; Feinbloom Charged

DNA testing on Feb. 6 confirmed that partial human remains recovered Dec. 21 in the Vista Del Mar area of Salton City belonged to 17-year-old T’Neya “TT” Tovar of Hemet, the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office said as investigators pursued additional evidence and remains. Prosecutors have charged 51-year-old Abraham H. Feinbloom of the 2800 block of Harlequin Court with first-degree murder and firearm-related enhancements; Feinbloom pleaded not guilty in Imperial County Superior Court and faces up to 50 years to life if convicted on all counts and enhancements.

Deputies responding at 4:22 p.m. Dec. 21 to a field near Portsmouth Avenue and Newhaven Court recovered a decomposed human leg, the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and local reports said. The Coroner’s Unit and a forensic pathologist initially could not determine sex, age or race from the limb; KESQ reported that Tovar’s mother, Charro Tovar, called the coroner on Dec. 23 and was told the limb appeared to belong to a white or Hispanic adult.

Investigators worked for weeks to develop a DNA profile. Ivpressonline reported the sheriff’s office used rapid DNA technology to identify the juvenile female, and FoxLA said Tovar’s mother provided a DNA swab that produced a positive match on Feb. 6. ABC7 and FOX11 reported that investigators later recovered alleged bullet fragments from the remains and are treating the case as a homicide; the presence of bullet fragments has been described by investigators but the coroner has not issued a final cause of death in public filings.

Feinbloom, who lived in a boarded-up pink house on Harlequin Court according to KESQ and whose residence is listed in reports as the 2800 block of Harlequin Court, was arrested after law enforcement served search warrants on Feb. 6 and Feb. 13 and say he attempted to flee. ABC7 reported Feinbloom was detained with his passport and Thai currency in his possession. Court records cited by ABC7 show prior arrests, including a 2016 arrest for suspicion of lewd acts involving a child and a dismissed felony kidnapping charge in 2019.

Tovar’s family publicized her disappearance after she stopped answering her mother’s calls Dec. 1; Charro Tovar posted flyers and social media appeals, and on Dec. 24 a missing-person flyer circulated that included a photograph showing a tattoo on the back of Tovar’s left hand. “I have to thank people for sharing my daughter's story. I appreciate it so much,” Charro Tovar told ABC7 as strangers shared the search on TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook.

The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office is coordinating with the FBI and continues to search for additional remains and evidence, Ivpressonline reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office at (442) 265-2265 or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).