The Hidden Fence That Solved a Vanishing Woman’s Case

Nancy Woodrum, 62, ran a hair salon in Paso Robles and lived alone at her Victorian ranch home called Paradise Ranch. She was known for her friendly nature, but after her husband’s death she kept to herself. On May 5, 2018, her daughter Amanda noticed that Nancy had not shown up to a regular Bible study. A neighbor reported the house was unlocked, the TV on, and the door wide open. When Amanda visited, she found blood stains in the bedroom and missing bed sheets. Police discovered discarded clothing a few miles away from Paradise Ranch, sparking suspicion that someone close to Nancy might be involved. Investigations over the next seven months examined guests, contractors, and family members, but none provided a lead. The breakthrough came when investigators used geofencing—a technology that tracks phones within a virtual boundary—to monitor Paradise Ranch. By placing a digital fence around the property, they could see which devices entered the house on the night Nancy vanished. This data pointed to Carlo Fuentes Flores, a painter hired for renovations.Authorities followed Fuentes Flores and secretly collected DNA from a bottle he drank at a restaurant. The sample matched DNA found in Nancy’s bedroom that evening. When questioned, Fuentes Flores led police to Carrizo Plain, where they discovered Nancy’s skeletal remains. During interrogation, Fuentes Flores confessed to assaulting Nancy while intoxicated and suffocating her with a pillow. He was arrested in December 2018, charged with murder, and later apologized to Nancy’s family. Despite a plea of not guilty and arguments about language barriers during the interview, he was convicted in February 2022 and sentenced to life without parole. An appeal in July 2023 was denied. Amanda expressed relief that her mother’s body was found, noting the closure it brought. She remembered Nancy’s kindness and faith as defining traits of her life.