New identity released for woman found in Spokane River

The woman found dead in the Spokane River near East Empire Avenue on January 10 has now been identified as Maria Guadalupe Vega, 58. The woman was previously identified in May as Rosalba Robayo Blanco, but investigators now believe that name was an alias, said Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Deputy Craig Chamberlin. The woman drowned, according to the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office. Detectives are treating the case as a homicide, Chamberlin said. Vega is believed to be from Tijuana, Mexico, Chamberlin said. She crossed into the United States at San Ysidro at 12:51 p.m. on Sept. 24, 2013. She told border officials that she was on her way to the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas but she never arrived there, Chamberlin said. Investigators are looking for anyone who knew Vega or may have seen her in the Spokane area. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Justin Elliott at (509) 477-3786.