Laura Garza, 25, left McAllen, a sleepy Texas border town, to transplant herself in New York, with dreams of becoming a dancer. However, even before her dream could be fulfilled, she has gone missing with the state police searching woods, trash bins, even a septic system near the home of Michael Mele, 22, a convicted sex offender with a record of sex crimes in New York citys' northern suburbs.

Apparently, last week, Garza and Mele met at the Marquee nightclub in Manhattan and left together early Wednesday. Last spotted a couple of hours later, 70-miles north of Manhattan in his Infiniti sport utility vehicle, heading to his Wallkill apartment, the woman hasn't been seen since. Several women who knew Mele, have come forward with information about him, however, police refuse to elaborate on, what the women have told investigators. A man, who left the club together with Mele and Garza has told New York City police that he was dropped him off on their way to Mele's apartment.

Mele, the owner of a local Quiznos franchise, is not being charged with Garza's disappearance, though police are still searching his SUV, apartment and the surrounding area. So far, there are no signs of Garza, yet!

But, Mele, whose convictions involve public lewdness and masturbating near women at a shopping mall, exposure to a child under 13 years of age, has been jailed in Rockland County for violating his six-year probation for the sex offenses, including violating probation by drinking at a bar, failing to report to his probation officer and missing sex-offender treatment sessions.

Messages left with the Paramus police chief for further details, including those left with Mele's lawyer have not been returned. The police have refused to confirm published reports about a missing swatch of carpet, a suspiciously clean apartment, or that blood had been found in the car.

With no major development or breakthrough in the search for Garza, some evidence has been sent for DNA and other tests. There is a strong urgency to find the young woman, as though the police have not determined whether it a case of homicide, most certainly foul play is suspected.

Mele, who is being held on a $50,000 bail pending his 22nd December court appearance, was visited by his parents yesterday, though late Saturday afternoon, he still had not made bail.

Isela Villalobos, Garza's cousin from Mission, Texas, told the reporters that Garza fell in love with New York after vacationing there. Garza, who worked in a clothing store in McAllen, Texas, loved fashion and loved dance, so she came back and told her mother she was moving to New York, where she found work in a Manhattan shoe store, to pay off some debts before applying to three dance schools in the city.

Further, Villalobos says Garza was a good girl, who came home every night and would never have left the club willingly with Mele.