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Santa Ana Police search for missing autistic woman Maritza Ortega
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New Santa Ana
Santa Ana police are urgently searching for 32-year-old Maritza Ortega, who went missing last night near Jackson Street and Hazard Avenue.
Key dangers include:Water hazards — Drowning is the leading cause of death among missing autistic individuals, with 87% of recovered fatalities in 2025 involving drowning .
— Drowning is the leading cause of death among missing autistic individuals, with .
How Often Missing Autistic Individuals Are FoundNational Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) data shows that from 2011–2016, 1,516 autistic children and young adults were reported missing, involving 1,986 incidents.
Survivability models show that autistic individuals have a 5% chance of survival at 7 days, underscoring the urgency of early search efforts.