Monica De Leon Barba, a 29-year-old San Mateo resident, is finally free and on her way back to the United States after enduring a terrifying eight-month ordeal, being held captive in Mexico by kidnappers whose motives and identities remain unknown, as the FBI continues their investigation into this heart-wrenching case, trying to bring those responsible to justice, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

On November 29, 2022, De Leon Barba was abducted in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, Mexico while walking home from work with her dog, leaving her family and the San Mateo community devastated, ABC7 reported. Growing up and living most of her life in California, De Leon Barba had moved to Mexico to pursue job opportunities in photography, only for her life to take a dark and unexpected turn.

The FBI opened an investigation into her kidnapping shortly after her disappearance, and with the assistance of law enforcement partners, both in the US and Mexico, they worked tirelessly to bring her back to her family, never forgetting about Monica, even as the months drew on, and the sense of hope seemed to dwindle, reported CBS News.

When the news of Monica's release finally reached her family and community, there was a palpable sense of relief and joy, with her older brother, Gustavo De Leon, expressing his heartfelt gratitude on social media, thanking everyone who helped and supported them throughout this terrible ordeal, which now, mercifully, has come to an end, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

As Monica begins the long journey of recovery and healing, surrounded by her loved ones, the FBI investigation into her kidnapping continues, with no arrests made yet and the search for her captors ongoing; but for now, the focus lies on Monica's safe return, knowing that an innocent victim is reunited with her family, a moment of profound relief, as stated by Robert K. Tripp, the special agent in charge of the case, according to ABC7.