Police say the 39-year-old romantic partner of Isabella Comas is jailed on separate charges while detectives continue the missing-person investigation.
AVONDALE, AZ — New court filings and police statements released this week outline the criminal history and current custody status of Tommy Rodriguez, 39, whom Avondale police have identified as a person of interest in the disappearance of 21-year-old Isabella Comas. Comas was last seen Jan. 11 after leaving a friend’s home near Van Buren Street and Avondale Boulevard.
Investigators say the search intensified after Comas did not show up for work and stopped answering her phone, prompting a Turquoise Alert. Detectives later recovered her red 2011 Hyundai Sonata in west Phoenix and traced her cellphone to a recycling facility. Authorities emphasize that Rodriguez has not been charged in her disappearance but remains in custody on separate felony counts that prosecutors say stem from the handling of her car and property. The case has moved into a critical phase, with police working tips generated by the alert and recent public appeals.
Police say Comas left a friend’s residence around 3 p.m. on Jan. 11 and was driving her red Hyundai sedan. On Jan. 12, a citizen found her phone at a Phoenix recycling center and turned it over, first to someone known to her and then to investigators. By Tuesday night, officers located her car near 67th Avenue and Indian School Road and labeled the disappearance “suspicious.” Two days later, on Jan. 15, police publicly named Rodriguez, her boyfriend, as a person of interest and confirmed he was already under arrest in a related case. “We greatly appreciate the community’s ongoing support,” Avondale Police Officer Jaret Redfearn said, noting that tips from the alert had been “extremely helpful.”
At an initial appearance Thursday, prosecutors told a Maricopa County judge that Rodriguez is the primary investigative lead in another active case and argued he tried to conceal evidence tied to the stolen vehicle allegation. They cited five prior felony convictions in his record, including second-degree murder and attempted armed robbery from a 2003 incident, as well as later convictions for aggravated assault and stalking. Prosecutors asked for a $100,000 cash-only bond, calling Rodriguez an extreme flight risk. The judge set a $25,000 secured bond on the new charges, plus a separate $25,000 secured bond for an alleged probation violation. Rodriguez spoke briefly in court, saying he did not try to hide and that his “girlfriend came up missing.”
Public records and interviews reviewed by local outlets trace Rodriguez’s criminal history back to his teens, when he was convicted in a fatal shooting during a robbery in Phoenix and later served a lengthy prison term. After his release, he was convicted in separate cases, including stalking and aggravated assault. A retired FBI supervisory special agent who reviewed the history said the stalking conviction stands out as a red flag in the context of an intimate-partner investigation. Police have not detailed evidence linking Rodriguez to Comas’ disappearance and have not announced any charges related to harming her. Detectives say they are analyzing vehicle and phone evidence while canvassing locations where she was last seen.
Comas’ disappearance triggered a Turquoise Alert on Jan. 13, a statewide system activated in suspicious missing-person cases for adults under 65 when investigators need public assistance. Officials say the alert produced numerous leads, including possible sightings and surveillance checks. Police released a description of Comas: 5-foot-3, about 110 pounds, brown eyes and pink hair, last seen in a baggy navy-blue shirt, blue pants with a white stripe and sandals. The department notified hospitals, transit providers and neighboring agencies to watch for the vehicle and for Comas. As of Saturday, officers said that key investigative records in the separate criminal case remain sealed to avoid compromising the wider search.
Rodriguez remains jailed in Maricopa County on the theft of means of transportation and criminal damage counts connected to the Hyundai, along with the probation-violation hold. The court scheduled additional proceedings tied to those charges while the missing-person inquiry proceeds on a parallel track. Detectives continue to obtain search warrants and review footage from the area where Comas was last seen and from corridors where the car and phone were recovered. Police said updates would be released when doing so would not hinder the investigation. No court date has been announced in connection with any potential charges directly related to Comas’ disappearance.
Outside the courthouse, relatives and friends described Comas as reliable and close with family, saying her absence and missed commitments are out of character. Neighbors near the recovery site of the Hyundai reported a steady police presence this week as officers canvassed businesses along Indian School Road. A store employee who was asked to review security video said investigators were looking for clips from Jan. 11–13 showing a red sedan and any passengers. “Everyone here just wants answers,” the employee said. Another resident said patrols increased in the neighborhood after the alert.
As of Saturday evening, Comas remains missing and Rodriguez remains in county custody on the unrelated charges. Police say the next update is expected after additional search warrants are executed and new video reviews are complete early next week. The investigation is ongoing.
Author note: Last updated January 17, 2026.