Investigators suspect foul play in the disappearance of Danielle Staley, a 35-year-old woman from Utah, who has been missing since Thursday. Staley was last seen at a bonfire on Rio Del Mar State Beach, located about 10 miles east of Santa Cruz. According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, she was with a group of people before she vanished.
Staley had traveled to California’s Central Coast with a friend around Halloween and was staying in a camper van near the beach. Her belongings, including her cell phone, were found on the beach, but there was no sign of her. The sheriff’s office has flown drones along the coastline in search of Staley, but they have found no evidence indicating she entered the ocean.
Sgt. Zach West from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office stated, “With any type of missing person and especially under these circumstances, which is unusual, we’re not ruling out foul play.” He added that Staley’s lack of communication with her family in Utah is uncharacteristic, raising concerns about her safety.
Authorities are seeking assistance from the public, particularly those who live or work near Beach Drive, Rio Del Mar Boulevard, and surrounding areas. They are urged to review surveillance footage from November 5 to November 7 for any evidence of Staley’s whereabouts. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office at 831-471-1121.
Staley is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing approximately 120 pounds, with blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and leopard print leggings.
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