Melissa Banda Wiki – Melissa Banda Biography

Melissa Banda was a 37-years-old missing woman, has found dead on Friday night, a day after her ex-husband allegedly abducted her. She is described as a Hispanic female, 5′ 6″ in height, weighing about 128 pounds, brown eyes and blonde hair.

Husband / Family

Officers identified Melissa Banda, 37, of McAllen as the woman involved, according to the news release. They also identified her ex-husband, Richard Ford, 40, of McAllen as a suspect in her apparent abduction.

Banda and Ford were married in July 2008, according to Hidalgo County Clerk’s Office records available online. They divorced; Hidalgo County doesn’t make divorce records available online.

“The victim reported ‘her ex-husband, Richard Ford … called her … [that] morning … when answering the call Richard stayed quiet on the line … there is currently a protection order which prohibits him from making any contact with her,'” according to the news release.

According to Investigators, She went missing a day after her ex-husband allegedly abducted her. Officials responded to a call involving a disturbance on August 6. Upon arrival, authorities were notified that a man had forced Banda into his vehicle. The suspect was then identified as Richard Ford, 40. The release states Ford is Banda’s husband.

Missing / Suspect

Police say on June 30, Banda reported that Ford had called her. She informed police that there was a protective order prohibiting Ford from making contact with her and provided the court documents.

Ford is being held at the Cameron County Jail on the charges mentioned above, charges associated with this missing person incident are pending, said the release.

The suspect vehicle was identified as a Dodge SUV. Police found the suspect vehicle to be a rental car. Ford’s personal vehicle was later found at the McAllen airport. Authorities then found the Dodge SUV near Beach Access 5 at South Padre Island.

Authorities approached the vehicle and arrested Ford. The release adds, at the time of the arrest Ford had two active warrants for violation of a court order and harassment.

Death and Cause

The body of Melissa Banda found north of Donna. Hidalgo County sheriff investigators examine a crime scene where the body of Banda on E 14 1/2 N road Saturday, August 8, 2020, north of Donna.

Investigation

The investigation started at 3:49 p.m. Thursday when the McAllen Police Department dispatched officers to a disturbance on the 7100 blocks of North 7th Street.

“Upon arrival, officers were informed that male suspect(s) ‘forced female [the victim] … and put her in … SUV,'” according to a news release from the police department.