SAN ANTONIO — The effort to catch whoever dragged a 63-year-old woman into the woods and killed her on the Salado Creek Trail intensified Tuesday in east San Antonio.
There's an aggressive effort by county and city law enforcement to solve the heartbreaking mystery of who attacked a victim confirmed by the county medical examiner to Stacey Dramiga. Officials say she died of blunt force and penetrating trauma to the head.
While some deputies combed the woods for clues on horseback, others mounted bicycles. Trail stewards worked the area in pairs and park police officers were out in force on ATVs.
They are all focused on finding clues for a woman whose family said went out for a walk Sunday morning and never returned.
Investigators said they found the woman's car abandoned in Covington County Park late Sunday, as well as a body matching Dramiga's description Monday morning.
Investigators said they found the body by using a linked iPad to ping the missing woman's phone.
Sheriff Javier Salazar said there are a number of ways citizens can help with the case. County authorities are looking for one trail user in particular who may have been one of the last people to have a conversation with the victim, the sheriff said.
A park police officer who works the area said he remembers seeing two women who are often on the trail having a conversation.
"They saw who they believed to be her talking to another female on the trail. Now we don't believe that other female is involved in any way. He described this other female as an African American female that is also a regular walker out here. The park police officers are familiar with both (women). We would ask that lady to contact us please," Salazar said.
Another useful tool, Salazar said, is video evidence from about 10 a.m.
"If you were out here on Sunday videotaping any of your activities, even if you don't believe that you saw her, please share that video with us. It may be somebody who is a suspect in this homicide," Salazar said.
Regular trail rider Andrew Martinez said the shocking attack is a powerful reminder that safety should always be top of mind for everyone.
Martinez said time outdoors is a treasure that shouldn't be lost.
"This is a beautiful trail. I've traveled it for years," Martinez said. "It gets me my work out. It gives me an escape from everyday hustle and bustle."
Martinez said he will use the lesson to be extra vigilant.
"My eyes will be peeled more often than usual now," Martinez said, adding that he never travels with the distraction of earbuds so that he will always be ready for danger.
"It's important. It's not safe because I need to be able to hear what's around me and what's coming and going," Martinez said, adding "I will continue to be here because you are in nature. You're in wildlife. It's refreshing. It's an escape from everyday life to let the wind blow in your face."
While the Medical Examiner continues working to positively identify the victim, BCSO urges anyone who may have helpful information to call their tips line: 210-335-6000.
It could help a family get some closure.
'Our person is gone'
Maisha Dramiga says she doesn’t want her mother only remembered at the worst moment of her life – she wants her mother to be remembered for having a good heart and a strong soul.
“I’m so grateful I have the mom that I have,” Dramiga said. “And she has been taken from us, but I still had almost 30 years of that. Where some people don’t even know that experience.”
She says her mother was a nurturer, especially for those she helped at the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation clinic at Brooke Army Medical Center.
“She was just always there,” she said. “I called her probably two times a week about if I’m having a wonderful day, like what I’m up to, and every time, she’d say, ‘Hey love, how’s it going?’”
It was on Monday when a CLEAR alert was issued for her mother, who disappeared while going on a walk. Hours later, a body presumed to be hers was found along the Salado Greenway trail near Dafoste Park.
“Investigation-wise, we’re just kind of…" Dramiga started. "Our person is gone, like whatever happens with that, it’ll resolve itself, that’s what we believe.”
Stacey Dramiga’s family wants to move forward – healing as they cope.
“I love my mom, I miss her so much, and I’ll think about her every day for the rest of my life,” she said.
