Isabella Comas: Police name boyfriend as a person of interest in her disappearance

Isabella Comas: Boyfriend named person of interest in woman's disappearance

Avondale PD named Tommy Rodriguez a person of interest in the disappearance of Isabella Comas. Rodriguez, who has a prior murder conviction, is held on $50,000 bond for charges related to Comas’ car and phone. FOX 10's Nicole Krasean has the details.

AVONDALE, Ariz. - The Avondale Police Department says 21-year-old Isabella Comas' boyfriend is a person of interest in her disappearance.

What we know:

Comas went missing on Jan. 11 at around 3 p.m. when she was last seen leaving a friend's home near Van Buren Street and Avondale Boulevard.

"She was driving a red Hyundai Sonata, Arizona license plate 2EA6LW, and has not been seen or heard from since. Isabella is described as a Hispanic female, 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing approximately 110 pounds, with brown eyes and pink hair. She was last seen wearing a baggy navy-blue shirt, blue pants with a white stripe down the side, and sandals," the Avondale Police Department said.

On Jan. 12, Comas' phone was found at a Phoenix recycling center. The next day, a Turquoise Alert was issued for Comas.

On Jan. 15, police said Comas' boyfriend, Tommy Rodriguez, 39, of Phoenix, was deemed a person of interest. According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office website, he's been arrested on charges related to Comas' disappearance.

Nearby law enforcement agencies, hospitals, cab companies and other emergency services have been told to be on the lookout for Comas.

Isabella Comas, 21, and Tommy Rodriguez, 39

Map of the area where Comas was last seen

Dig deeper:

Prosecutors argued that Rodriguez should remain jailed to prevent the destruction of evidence.

He appeared in court Jan. 15 on charges of theft of means of transportation and criminal damage. Avondale Police Officer Jaret Redfearn said the theft charge involves Comas’ vehicle and is directly related to her missing person investigation.

"Their hearts are aching. They want to find their daughter, their sister, their loved one," Redfearn said of the Comas family.

According to investigators, Rodriguez is also tied to the recovery of Comas’ cellphone. Redfearn said a citizen found the phone at a Phoenix recycling center and gave it to Rodriguez, who eventually returned it to the family before it was handed over to police.

During the hearing, prosecutors highlighted Rodriguez’s violent criminal history, which includes a prior conviction for murder. Court records show Rodriguez was sentenced to 18 years in prison for fatally shooting a man during a robbery when he was 15. His record also includes convictions for stalking and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

State attorneys argued Rodriguez is a flight risk, noting he recently traveled out of state on a one-way ticket. Rodriguez told the judge the travel was for work and maintained he has been cooperating with the investigation.

Detectives said the state's Turquoise Alert system has been vital in gathering tips. The most recent footage of Comas shows her at a convenience store wearing a white shirt with a black logo.

Rodriguez is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.

What you can do:

"We greatly appreciate the community’s ongoing support and encourage anyone with information to continue responding to her Turquoise Alert. The tips received so far have been extremely helpful in moving this case forward," the police department said.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Avondale Police Department at 623-333-7000. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.