by IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. — A 51-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after authorities confirmed that a decomposing leg discovered in December belonged to a missing 17-year-old girl from Riverside County.
The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office announced that Abraham Feinbloom, 51, is being held without bail at the Imperial County Jail on suspicion of murder and resisting a peace officer in connection with the death of T’Neya Tovar, who was reported missing late last year.
The investigation, which has involved multiple agencies, escalated after forensic testing confirmed the remains belonged to the teen.
Search Warrant Leads to Arrest in Salton City
According to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office, deputies — working alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation — served a search warrant on Feb. 13 at a home in the 2800 block of Harlequin Court in Salton City.
Investigators said Feinbloom was seen jumping a fence in what appeared to be an attempt to evade law enforcement, but he was quickly taken into custody by local authorities.
He was later turned over to FBI agents for questioning while the property was processed for evidence.
Officials have not yet released further details about what evidence was recovered from the home.
Teen Reported Missing in December
Tovar was reported missing from her Hemet home in Riverside County on Dec. 1, 2025. At the time, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children issued an alert noting she “may be in the company of an adult male.”
Authorities later indicated that the teen may have traveled approximately 70 miles to Thermal, California, to meet an unidentified man.
Her disappearance prompted a multi-agency search effort spanning counties in Southern California.
Remains Discovered Weeks Later
On Dec. 21, authorities discovered a leg showing signs of decomposition in the Vista Delmar area of Imperial County.
Through rapid DNA analysis, investigators compared the remains to a DNA swab provided by Tovar’s mother.
“A positive match was made, identifying the found remains as the missing female juvenile reported out of Riverside County, California,” authorities said in a follow-up release.
The confirmation marked a devastating turn in the search for the missing teen and shifted the investigation into a homicide case.
Investigation Ongoing
The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office extended condolences to Tovar’s family and emphasized that the case remains under active investigation.
Officials are urging anyone with information to contact Investigator Moreno at 442-265-2265.
Read Also: Texas Son Charged After Mother Found Stabbed, 4-Year-Old Located Following Missouri Amber Alert
At this stage, authorities have not disclosed:
- A cause of death
- Whether additional remains have been located
- The nature of the relationship between Tovar and the suspect
Feinbloom remains in custody without bail as prosecutors move forward with the case.
The tragic case highlights the dangers surrounding missing persons investigations and the critical role of forensic science in identifying remains.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to come forward as investigators continue to piece together the timeline of events leading up to the teen’s death.
If you have thoughts on this case or concerns about missing persons awareness in your community, share respectfully in the comments below.
