AZ AZ - Chelsea Grimm, 32, traveling from San Diego CA to CT, car found Oct 5 on Forest Rd 6 near Williams, she was last seen in Williams, 28 Sep 2023

[momsof3]

Interesting! I need to listen to that podcast. I have a family member that went to Canyon Ranch 30 years ago - it was addiction recovery and included a week-long family therapy session. I was impressed. My family member is still sober all these years later. I hope Chelsea's parents don't feel too much guilt, it was extremely expensive.

This is all my own speculation -

The Going West podcast did an episode on Chelsea and it's the first time I've listened to the timeline from start to finish as opposed to following it as it was unfolding. MOO and absolutely no victim blaming intended - I wonder if Chelsea began using drugs while dating her ex who was a dealer. They broke up and she was turning over a new leaf and planned to stop using. She knew she had to be at the wedding at the end of the month. She either couldn't get on the plane due to the bearded dragon (it can be hard to find that kind of info online especially if you are in an unclear headspace) or couldn't get on the plane due to fears of not having access to substances, or fears of seeing her family when she was still possibly using.

Again, MOO - I think she decided to drive instead of flying with plans of giving herself a week to detox and get clean before seeing her family. People experiencing addiction can feel ashamed and hide what they are going through. She would have been having a tough time the first few days with symptoms hence the 3 day trip from CA to AZ. Then she asked her parents to check her into a wellness retreat at Canyon Ranch, a high end spa/wellness center that also offers addiction recovery services. She could have asked her parents to check her in here under the guise of it being a spa as a last attempt to get clean to make it to the wedding on time.

Detoxing can be so dangerous to do alone especially if you are camping without access to running water or regular food. My heart goes out to Chelsea and her family and friends and I hope she is found! And I hope I'm wrong about everything above and she is safe and healthy somewhere.

ETA - your theory makes a lot of sense of Chelsea's behavior, which didn't make a lot of sense. I can see this being the "plan."

 

[charminglane]

Thinking of Chelsea today.

 

[truthfinder2019]

A good summary

Parents of missing photographer say she shared fears about last trip

She set out on September 24 but there has been no sign of her since her car was found locked and with two flat tires in Kaibab National Forest just northeast of Ash Fork on October 5.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[tarabull]

I sure hope Chelsea didn't GET LOST on some RANCH near Seligman AZ...

Where are you Ms Grimm?!?!?!

 

[technicallymissing]

I sure hope Chelsea didn't GET LOST on some RANCH near Seligman AZ...

Where are you Ms Grimm?!?!?!

What is this in reference to? :0

 

[TravelingBug]

What is this in reference to?

This other missing person's case that has some parallels (only arrests were just made) I believe.

AZ - AZ - Shayna Feinman, 35, living on a 40-acre prop w/friends, diff vers given about how she went missing, Yavapai County, 9 Mar 2024

Soon after Shayna Feinman, 35, went missing on March 9 somewhere in between Peach Springs and Seligman, Arizona, her sister, Kara, began contacting Shayna’s friends where she quickly heard two different versions of the disappearance. Shayna is a graduate of Guilderland High School, she moved...

www.websleuths.com

 

[Lalalacasbah]

What is this in reference to?

I am new to this thread/case but got intrigued and really want her to be found!!

I think @tarabull (correct me if I'm wrong!) is referring to there being a lot of new age/spiritual type communes (or cults depending on who you ask) around some areas of AZ. I've read about one in Rio Rico too that's been mentioned...

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Again, new to Chelsea's story so not fully versed on all details (so I might be repeating thoughts)...

A few things that jump out to me:
1. When LE talked to her on bodycam when she seemed lucid/crying about her cemetery photo shoot. The shoot happened hours ago. As a hobby photographyer myself I understand getting emotional/sentimental when photographing something, but hours later? Seemed a bit strange to me, makes me think she was crying about something else and just saying that. Also, she said she was crying before she got back on the road but hadn't she been there for hours? She had nowhere to go or be, so was she just saying this?

2. Who called in the suspicious activity? Are there actual houses or people that were around there or was she being watched?
ETA: It seems she spoke with a neighbor in Williams and they are possibly the ones who phoned LE?

In the video, the officer said they got a call for suspicious activity near the cemetery in Williams, and he came to check on her. Grimm appears upset and explains she was working on a photography project. “Are you doing alright?” the officer asks. “Yeah, I just was doing a photo shoot of the lost soldiers and got a little emotional, so I was crying before I got back on the road,” Grimm said.

Body-cam video shows missing woman talking to Arizona officer days before disappearance

Chelsea Grimm, 32, has been missing for two weeks.

www.azfamily.com

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Could she have been followed from someone who knew she was alone/vulnerable from the cemetery to the forest where car was abandoned (became undrivable)? They could have done something to tires while she was sleeping and 'offered' her a ride, but I would think she'd phone her parents if stranded IF she had cell reception?

I feel like she got a ride with someone expecting not to take long to sort things out... because I think she did lock her doors as she loved her vehicle, brought her dragon, wallet, etc. That seems thought out.

The troubling thing to me is leaving the camera, I wouldn't leave my camera unless I thought I'd be back in a short time. Why leave a decent, beloved camera in the car if you're a photographer? Most have straps so not really extra weight.

The only thing I can think of is she thought she wouldn't be gone long, expected to be gone a short while and have her vehicle fixed and drivable again. MOO

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I am curious who was all with the old woodcutter who knew her situation of being alone and not knowing the area. I hope LE have looked into this entire party of woodcutters. Strange her vehicle was found on a route used usually only by hunters and woodcutters....

Woodcutter mentioned a man with him was an ex-cop, but who else was there when he says 'we'? Were there 3 or 4 men that encountered her with the woodcutter?

Her abandoned car was only reported because it's a road hunters and woodcutters use, otherwise no one would have reported it since quite remote?

I hope LE dusted her car for other prints in case her vehicle was ditched there by someone else who is familiar with the area or perhaps she was led out there by someone who knows the area who enticed her for "cool photography scenery". MOO, JMO

A week later on October 5, Coconino County Sheriff's deputies were called to Road 6, a remote dirt road west of Flagstaff near Ashfork, Arizona. They found Grimm's abandoned SUV in the middle of a road that's often used by hunters and woodcutters.

Missing woman from Ocean Beach last seen in Arizona

Police body camera footage obtained by CBS 8 shows Chelsea Grimm days before she was reported missing.

www.cbs8.com

 

[tarabull]

Welp, here we r, back at September, 1 year missing this month ---- where is Chelsea Grimm???

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I'm trying to catch up and read all pages on this thread to not repeat thoughts/ideas although I think I already did repeat many other's thoughts sorry!

I am leaning towards she did not leave by her own choice. I do think possible some mental health stress was happening and she might've been 'uneven' like her folks described but I don't think she had a total 'break' - as then she wouldn't think to lock the doors to preserve he beloved vehicle, take her important cards/wallet, pet, etc. She does seems quiet intelligent, knows what she's capable of (and not capable of) and her family said she 'over communicates'. She sounds like she easily expresses herself.

The only weird thing is the camera, if she left with someone maybe they said just take what you can carry as we'll be back soon but then when they returned maybe her tires were flat. Thinking aloud, MOO

 

[truthfinder2019]

Worth reading !

Chelsea Grimm: Missing in the Forest of Williams Arizona — SEARCH | Missing Person Investigations

Chelsea Grimm was on a driving from San Diego California to Connecticut when she went missing under mysterious circumstances. Her car was found abandoned on a desolate forest road above Williams Arizona. Was this planned? Foul play? Or is Chelsea truly lost?

www.searchinvestigations.org

Chelsea Grimm: Missing From Forest Road 6​

Lost? planned? Or foul play?​

…
Chelsea’s Canon camera by far held the most clues. It provided a timeline of her movements starting on September 28th. The photos Chelsea took showed a person having a mental health crisis and not perceiving a true reality.

Through our efforts, we've pieced together a narrative that, while incomplete, offers a glimpse into Chelsea's state of mind and potential intentions. Evidence suggests that she may have been looking to start anew, seeking refuge from personal troubles by going off-grid. This theory is supported by surveillance footage, witness statements, and the physical condition of her abandoned vehicle, found with two blown-out tires deep within the forest.

One of the more telling pieces of evidence I was able to obatin from a motel in Seligman, AZ, where Chelsea attempted to check in, paying with Euros telling the clerk at the hotel she wished to “stay off the grid”. This action, along with her reluctance to use her debit card, signals a desire for anonymity
…
A confirmed sighting by means of a receipt in the same area was even more confusing as the clerk at this store is certain that Chelesa was in a different vehicle than her white SUV.
…
There were indications in the evidence that she was not happy with her life and the people in it and wanted to start anew.
…
The last photography Chelsea took was from inside the car at 5:52 pm in the exact spot her car was found. There was only 18 minutes of daylight left. If she chose to hike out in the darkness and hiked the wrong direction by the time the sun came up she could have hiked fifteen or more miles into the desolate forest.

 

[truthfinder2019]

PACE GRAD DISAPPEARS ON WAY TO FAMILY WEDDING: WHERE’S CHELSEA?

CRIME Stories with Nancy Grace

www.crimeonline.com

 

[azure]

Worth reading !

Chelsea Grimm: Missing in the Forest of Williams Arizona — SEARCH | Missing Person Investigations

Chelsea Grimm was on a driving from San Diego California to Connecticut when she went missing under mysterious circumstances. Her car was found abandoned on a desolate forest road above Williams Arizona. Was this planned? Foul play? Or is Chelsea truly lost?

www.searchinvestigations.org

Chelsea Grimm: Missing From Forest Road 6​

Lost? planned? Or foul play?​

…
Chelsea’s Canon camera by far held the most clues. It provided a timeline of her movements starting on September 28th. The photos Chelsea took showed a person having a mental health crisis and not perceiving a true reality.

Through our efforts, we've pieced together a narrative that, while incomplete, offers a glimpse into Chelsea's state of mind and potential intentions. Evidence suggests that she may have been looking to start anew, seeking refuge from personal troubles by going off-grid. This theory is supported by surveillance footage, witness statements, and the physical condition of her abandoned vehicle, found with two blown-out tires deep within the forest.

One of the more telling pieces of evidence I was able to obatin from a motel in Seligman, AZ, where Chelsea attempted to check in, paying with Euros telling the clerk at the hotel she wished to “stay off the grid”. This action, along with her reluctance to use her debit card, signals a desire for anonymity
…
A confirmed sighting by means of a receipt in the same area was even more confusing as the clerk at this store is certain that Chelesa was in a different vehicle than her white SUV.
…
There were indications in the evidence that she was not happy with her life and the people in it and wanted to start anew.
…
The last photography Chelsea took was from inside the car at 5:52 pm in the exact spot her car was found. There was only 18 minutes of daylight left. If she chose to hike out in the darkness and hiked the wrong direction by the time the sun came up she could have hiked fifteen or more miles into the desolate forest.

"On the second day I was in Williams I was able to go inspect the vehicle which is at a police impound. I inspected the exterior noting the blown out tires and some other damage. The interior was packed with personal items. Not items like you would expect for someone traveling to a wedding. It was more like someone said “you have twenty minutes to get as many things out of your apartment.” It was a hodgepodge of items. The car was in disarray which may have been from the Sheriff’s Department searching the vehicle but beyond that it was still filthy with cigarettes put out in the cupholders and dirty items rolled up and stuffed into crevices of the seats. It was consistent with what I have seen time and time again when a person is suffering a mental crisis."

It's amazing to see a PI say "she likely was having a mental health crisis and walked into the desert"-which has always seemed the most rational and likely situation. So often PIs seem to say whatever will keep the family on the line and paying.

 

[branmuffin]

I don't think Chelsea set out to disappear but I do believe the state of her mental health is in play with her disappearance. I don't think she met with foul play. I believe she went on a quest. For what, I don't know. I don't think she meant to put herself in a dangerous situation but that is where she found herself. If she is ever found, I don't believe there will be any evidence that suggests anything other than misadventure.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I don't think Chelsea set out to disappear but I do believe the state of her mental health is in play with her disappearance. I don't think she met with foul play. I believe she went on a quest. For what, I don't know. I don't think she meant to put herself in a dangerous situation but that is where she found herself. If she is ever found, I don't believe there will be any evidence that suggests anything other than misadventure.

i have agreed with this assessment for a long time.
It just feels odd that she has not been found.

 

[azure]

i have agreed with this assessment for a long time.
It just feels odd that she has not been found.

There's just nothing out there. The population density map shows between 1 and 10 residents per square mile east of Williams, AZ. There is little besides dense forests and desert scrub. It will be a miracle if her body is found, IMO.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Great article with interesting details, some things from article to note and my questions/comments as I'm still thinking a crisis but that someone took advantage of her situation... long post!
------
1. Car found "about thirteen miles into the forest between Williams and Ash Fork Arizona":

--- Even if in a mental health crisis surely she knew which direction she drove in on the road and which way to walk back if needed? 13 miles isn't that hard a walk for a women her age (4-6 hours I'm guessing at 2 hr per 5 miles?) She seemed with it enough to take important things with her, lock the car and set car alarm. I think she intended to come back.

2. "I was surprised that the terrain was mostly flat and the trees were short and sparse. It was not the rugged forest terrain I expected. In fact, it would be easy to hike out of this forest area":

--- If she wandered out into the desert I still feel hunters would've noticed her wandering or her clothing and belongings would've been found by now. That video in hotel she was wearing a bright white dress it looked like, was that found in the car or was she wearing that? That would stand out in the wilderness if she succumbed to desert elements.

3. "Still filthy with cigarettes put out in the cupholders and dirty items rolled up and stuffed into crevices of the seats. It was consistent with what I have seen time and time again when a person is suffering a mental crisis."

--- I don't think that's too out there. She obviously was conscientious (and mentally aware) enough to NOT throw cigarettes out into nature, where else would she put them? To me maybe weird, but seems like she was semi organized to not mix up dirty items (clothes, underwear?) with her cleaner ones so put them in a certain spot?

4. "The note also referenced someone from years ago in her past who is deceased. And there was more troubling indication that this person had entered her mindset recently but I will keep those details private."

--- I wonder who this was? Maybe she thought she was communicating with someone who passed away?

5. Good to have confirmed she did not go to Love's truck stop, but where did she go? Did she meet someone that night? "A confirmed sighting by means of a receipt in the same area was even more confusing as the clerk at this store is certain that Chelesa was in a different vehicle than her white SUV."

--- Talks of "communes/retreats" in those areas... do they go out and scout vulnerable people to join their communes/retreats? Did she meet someone who convinced her even more to live a different life and abandon it all? Did they come pick her up in the desert when she decided to join a group and leave her car? *Theorizing of course.

Frustrating the computer and cell records haven't been looked at. If I was her family I'd be going out of my mind to get into those records. She could've called (or communicated somehow if no reception) someone to pick her up where her car was or something!

I hope someone can get into those records one day. I still feel like articles of clothing, her glasses and personal belonging would show up by now if she wandered into the desert but maybe not.

 

[waldojabba]

"On the second day I was in Williams I was able to go inspect the vehicle which is at a police impound. I inspected the exterior noting the blown out tires and some other damage. The interior was packed with personal items. Not items like you would expect for someone traveling to a wedding. It was more like someone said “you have twenty minutes to get as many things out of your apartment.” It was a hodgepodge of items. The car was in disarray which may have been from the Sheriff’s Department searching the vehicle but beyond that it was still filthy with cigarettes put out in the cupholders and dirty items rolled up and stuffed into crevices of the seats. It was consistent with what I have seen time and time again when a person is suffering a mental crisis."

It's amazing to see a PI say "she likely was having a mental health crisis and walked into the desert"-which has always seemed the most rational and likely situation. So often PIs seem to say whatever will keep the family on the line and paying.

iirc, I think this PI said he was contracted only for four days of search efforts. I do think the family did have another PI hired after his four days were over -
Just my opinion