ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — An active-duty U.S. Air Force airman who has been missing for nearly six months is now being investigated as a possible desertion case, according to Air Force officials.
Staff Sgt. Isaiah Morningstar, 28, assigned to Holloman Air Force Base, was last seen in the Alamogordo area in July 2025 before departing southern New Mexico. He was later confirmed to have boarded a flight at El Paso International Airport, with the Dominican Republic listed as his destination.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) confirmed the information in a statement provided to The Salty Soldier through the 49th Wing Public Affairs Office, saying the case remains an open and active investigation.
“AFOSI is investigating the disappearance of Staff Sgt. Isaiah Morningstar as a desertion case,” the statement read. “He was last seen boarding a flight at El Paso International Airport, and his destination was the Dominican Republic. This is an open and ongoing AFOSI investigation. To protect the integrity of the investigation, we cannot provide additional information at this time.”
No further details were released regarding the date of travel, flight information, or investigative findings.
Timeline of Disappearance
Morningstar was last seen in the Alamogordo area in July 2025, with early information placing his final confirmed movements along White Sands Boulevard. Family members later learned that he boarded a flight from El Paso International Airport bound for the Dominican Republic. In the weeks that followed, Morningstar failed to make contact with family or friends. There has been no confirmed financial activity or verified sightings since his departure. Nearly six months later, he remains unaccounted for as AFOSI continues its investigation.
Family Raises Concerns of Manipulation
Morningstar’s mother, Sara Benson, said her son’s disappearance is entirely out of character and believes he may have been manipulated by someone he traveled to meet.
Benson told The Salty Soldier that her son traveled to the Dominican Republic to meet a woman named Rosa Moronto, whom he met online approximately 14 months prior to his disappearance. She believes their initial contact may have occurred through Reddit.
According to Benson, Morningstar met Moronto once in person last year and continued communicating with her primarily through phone calls, email, and WhatsApp. Over time, Benson said her son sent Moronto large sums of money, including most of his paychecks, raising concerns within the family.
“He lost a lot of weight. He wasn’t eating,” Benson said, citing concerns shared by Morningstar’s ex-wife. “Mental health was already a concern, and I believe she took advantage of that.”
Sudden Departure, No Notice
Benson said Morningstar had previously mentioned plans to travel to the Dominican Republic in November 2025, but his actual departure appeared sudden and unannounced.
“He didn’t tell anyone he was leaving,” she said. “From what we understand, he changed his flight and left the same day.”
When he departed, Morningstar reportedly took almost no belongings with him, leaving personal items behind at his residence. Benson said he carried only a small drawstring bag that appeared nearly empty, leading her to believe he did not intend to stay long.
Earlier this year, Benson said Morningstar married Moronto online without informing his family, a development that further intensified their concerns.
Disappearing Contact, No Leads
Benson said her son expressed increasing paranoia in the weeks before he vanished and mentioned that Moronto had a troubled past. She believes he may have traveled to confront her in person.
Family members have attempted to locate Moronto online but say her email addresses and phone numbers are no longer active, and no verified social media profiles have been identified. The only publicly available photos of Moronto are from last year. Benson noted that Moronto frequently wore wigs, which could make identification difficult, though she described a prominent facial scar as a distinguishing feature.
Benson said she contacted the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic but was told officials had no information about her son’s whereabouts and would only notify her if he were located.
Nearly six months later, there has been no contact, no known financial activity, and no confirmed sightings.
“This is completely unlike him,” Benson said. “He doesn’t drink, party, or get into trouble. He has never just disappeared.”
Investigation Continues
AFOSI remains the lead investigative agency. While the Air Force has classified the case as desertion, Benson and her family maintain that Morningstar may have been manipulated and could still be at risk.
AFOSI has declined to release investigative records on an accelerated timeline, citing the active nature of the case. Officials said records will be handled under standard review procedures, which can take several months or longer before any information is released.
Anyone with information related to Isaiah Morningstar or Rosa Moronto is encouraged to contact the Air Force Office of Special Investigations at 1-877-246-1453.
The Salty Soldier will continue pursuing records through public-records requests and reporting verified updates as they become available.
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