Elba Leonor Diaz Soccarras (born c. 1935) is a

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

n-born

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

amnesia Amnesia is a deficit in memory caused by brain damage or brain diseases,Gazzaniga, M., Ivry, R., & Mangun, G. (2009) Cognitive Neuroscience: The biology of the mind. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. but it can also be temporarily caused by t ...

c whose origins and identity were unknown to

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

authorities for 14 years from 1994 to 2009. Suffering from advanced

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

, Soccarras was unable to disclose information on her identity after she was abandoned at a New Jersey shopping mall.

Background

Discovery

On November 4, 1994, Soccarras was found at the

Woodbridge Center Woodbridge Center is a major two-level shopping mall located in Woodbridge Township, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, at the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 9. As of 2025, Woodbridge Center features a variety of retail stores, in ...

Woodbridge Township, New Jersey Woodbridge Township is a township in northern Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is a regional hub of transportation and commerce for central New Jersey and a major bedroom suburb of New York City, within the New ...

. She spoke

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

, had no memory of her identity, and did not carry any identification. She was well groomed and wearing an engraved wedding ring. She was unable to speak. She recalled her name as "Elba." Elba was placed in the Garrett Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital in

Hunterdon County, New Jersey Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. At the 2020 census, the county was the state's 4th-least populous county,Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

. In 2008, New Jersey officials renewed a canvassing campaign across the state, as well as in

and

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

, in an effort to discover her true identity. At the time, officials believed that she had been abandoned by a family member.

Identification

In March 2009, through tips from the public and aid from the Colombian consulate, authorities were able to identify her as 74-year-old Elba Leonor Diaz Soccarras, who had immigrated from Colombia to the United States in 1969. She was born on March 28, 1934, in

Villanueva, La Guajira Villanueva is a town and municipality located in the northern Departments of Colombia, Department of La Guajira Department, La Guajira, Colombia. Villanueva is known in Colombia for being the cradle of many vallenato singers and composers. The eco ...

. As a single mother, she had worked for years in a factory. Officials learned that she had a daughter living in New Jersey the entire time she was unidentified. The daughter said they had a disagreement and she had thought that Elba had returned to Colombia years ago. By establishing her citizenship, authorities were able to transfer her from Garrett Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital to a

nursing home A nursing home is a facility for the residential care of older people, senior citizens, or disabled people. Nursing homes may also be referred to as care homes, skilled nursing facilities (SNF), or long-term care facilities. Often, these terms ...

References

1934 births 1990s missing person cases 1994 in New Jersey American people of Colombian descent Formerly missing Colombian people Living people Missing person cases in New Jersey {{Authority control People from La Guajira Department People from Woodbridge Township, New Jersey People with Alzheimer's disease People with amnesia Unidentified American people

Background

Discovery

Identification

See also

References