Found Deceased CA - Lauren Cho, 30, from NJ was visiting for 2 mos, Morongo Valley, 28 Jun 2021

[PoppySleuth]

www.laurencho.com
Her family shared the site on the FB page for finding Lauren and said her friends made it (I am veeery much assuming they're referring to her NJ friends she grew up with, and not people in CA).
They said:


Cho, 30, was last seen at 3 p.m. on Monday, June 28 in the 8600 block of Ben Mar Trail in Morongo Valley, CA. She was wearing a yellow T-shirt (pictured) and jean shorts.

El had a parrotlet named Porkchop that she didn’t like to leave. Since El’s disappearance, Porkchop became sick and has succumbed to the illness.
(This is so upsetting to hear. Lauren leaves and then her prized, loved, gorgeous pet died from illness and honestly, probably a broken heart too from missing their favorite human so much. Wow.)

(El sings in this video uploaded by The Virtual Choir.)

Lots of pictures of Lauren if you click on Media.
Under the How to Help section, there is some interesting information.

I have only seen this specific source that says her car was packed with food and water. I have seen conflicting statements regarding the keys, so I am confused on that aspect.

This image is self-explanatory. I mean, I did not personally know Lauren. The only claim I will make is that I've looked at this case quite intensely and have written a lot about it (an entire script for a YT video and then some). My theory? #1 self harm, #2 ex-boyfriend. Lauren had told her friends, who have been investigated and investigated and investigated, that she was very depressed and had a very hard time feeling like she had worth as a human being. I understand her friends do not want to believe that. Nobody wants to think their friend would kill themselves - most people would like to think their friend would come to them and confide in them or ask for help. Unfortunately, I'd assume the vast majority of people who kill themselves are loved by at least a couple people if not many people. I am getting the feeling many of her friends back home were people she grew up with in her religious environment, and/or when she was younger, and perhaps did not know Lauren at age 30...

Okay, well, now that remains have been found very close to where she was staying, I think the tables have turned a bit and makes the self-harm theory more likely. As I stated in a previous post, IF those are Lauren's remains, I do not think Lauren died of exposure. I think it is quite possible she took a method or two with her into the desert. This is all just my opinion of what I feel like makes the most sense given the information with which we have been provided.

I want to see what the hyoid bone of the remains have to say. Exposure is most likely out of the question. What puzzles me is the actual timeline. They get into an argument around 2-3 pm. She storms off with no water (leaving it in her car that is right there) and is gone until 5 when they call the cops. I don't know about you, but after an argument there is always cooling off time. People need to chill and take time. 2 hours seems an ok amount. Even in that heat, and there are buildings all along the roads out there including MANY other properties within an easy walks distance. WHY would the Sheriffs be called so soon unless to you KNOW shes going to be missing for a lot longer. Not trying to be all conspiracy theorist here, but it doesn't add up. And to not feed your bird before?

 

[PoppySleuth]

<modsnip>

Also, after looking on social media a bit, El's friends all seem to think the remains are likely hers. I think the opinion that's differing between everyone at this point is how it happened.
What happened to Lauren? Was it a suicide or a murder? Did she really just walk into the desert and die of exposure because of an argument with Cody (I'm not buying that)?

There is no way. If you look at a map of the area, there are roads all along that location leading to other properties with unassociated owners. And all within an easy walk. NO WAY it is exposure. There was shelter, food and water at each property

 

[PoppySleuth]

I know, that makes me so sad. I can't imagine leaving my pet. The bird supposedly succumbed to an illness?

Unfortunately yes. It died fairly shortly. Parrots bond DEEPLY to their caregiver. She knew what would happen if she ever left him. no way she left him to die like that.

 

[PoppySleuth]

Looks like pressure may be building.... all of the future dates for the AirBnb's that Tao owns have been blocked as of today.

 

[Ravenmoon]

There is no way. If you look at a map of the area, there are roads all along that location leading to other properties with unassociated owners. And all within an easy walk. NO WAY it is exposure. There was shelter, food and water at each property

No. The roads are dirt roads. It is 8 and a half miles to the highway. It was HOT that day. She had no water. The houses are not always easy access and there are not that many near The Whole. maps are deceiving. That area is not what you (likely ) think that it is.

AMOO JMO MOO

 

[bykerladi]

Can someone explain to me why Brian Laundry was identified in like 24 hours but the bones found aren't yet identified as Lauren or not?

 

[Ravenmoon]

Can someone explain to me why Brian Laundry was identified in like 24 hours but the bones found aren't yet identified as Lauren or not?

Someone please correct me if I am wrong-
I believe the found enough of Laundrie's teeth to do a dental match.
Sadly, it seems they do not have the same findings for El.

MOO JMO AMOO

 

[SimplyCass]

Can someone explain to me why Brian Laundry was identified in like 24 hours but the bones found aren't yet identified as Lauren or not?

Laundrie's remains were described as skeletal (source), but I assume the jaw was intact enough to identify through dentals.

In another recent MP case, JJ Day, it took 18 days to positively identify. His front teeth, top and bottom, were missing, and additionally the coroner extracted DNA from the tibia. (source)

They haven't described in detail for these remains, but IMO, if they were exposed in the environment for up to three months, they could be quite deteriorated as well.

There is NO casino in Morongo Valley.

I think the previous poster probably thought Morongo Casino was in Morongo Valley. The casino is located in Cabazon, CA, 21 miles away by car.

 

[B.Cohle]

No. The roads are dirt roads. It is 8 and a half miles to the highway. It was HOT that day. She had no water. The houses are not always easy access and there are not that many near The Whole. maps are deceiving. That area is not what you (likely ) think that it is.

This is not true at all. <modsnip> The house is less than a mile from the highway and although not in a dense neighborhood, it does have quite a few neighbors close by.

There is no way. If you look at a map of the area, there are roads all along that location leading to other properties with unassociated owners. And all within an easy walk. NO WAY it is exposure. There was shelter, food and water at each property

Exposure is very much possible, especially in the desert. Heat stroke can happen suddenly, especially if you add alcohol to the mix. Rumor is she had a bottle with her when she walked off. Although there are places she could have made it to get help, including back to where she came from, that is irrelevant when talking about someone who is despondent. The majority of the time their final location is just out of sight of where they came from.

WHY would the Sheriffs be called so soon unless to you KNOW shes going to be missing for a lot longer.

Because she had been up late the night before being talked out of suicide by all of her friends. They were immediately worried the moment they couldn't find her.

I'm pretty surprised by all the people pushing the idea of foul play here. For that to be true, all of her friends would have had to be in on it. These are just some desert hippy kids, not criminal masterminds.

 

[Vail]

When a person is suicidal, things like how much they love a child or pet no longer matters. In fact, those thoughts often become "they're better off without me". Suicide is a complete envelopment in ones own psyche - you're so self absorbed and in your own head you can't see the light. If Porkchop was sick already and she knew it, it may have even exacerbated problems.

My belief is she walked into the desert without a destination, or she tried walking into town because they took her keys and she couldn't drive. With the heat that day, even walking on the trails towards town the most direct way, heat stroke would have got her within an hour IMO.

I don't suspect anyone of foul play. Their behaviour currently is too "business as usual" to be suspicious. IMO normal people try to get back to life while dealing with the uncertainty or grief of a loved one's disappearance and possible death. Suspicious people tend to either control the narrative or run away. Cody and Tao have done neither.

 

[bykerladi]

Foul play, maybe not. But I can't help but feel that negligence came into play here.

 

[Ravenmoon]

This is not true at all. <modsnip> The house is less than a mile from the highway and although not in a dense neighborhood, it does have quite a few neighbors close by.



Exposure is very much possible, especially in the desert. Heat stroke can happen suddenly, especially if you add alcohol to the mix. Rumor is she had a bottle with her when she walked off. Although there are places she could have made it to get help, including back to where she came from, that is irrelevant when talking about someone who is despondent. The majority of the time their final location is just out of sight of where they came from.



Because she had been up late the night before being talked out of suicide by all of her friends. They were immediately worried the moment they couldn't find her.

I'm pretty surprised by all the people pushing the idea of foul play here. For that to be true, all of her friends would have had to be in on it. These are just some desert hippy kids, not criminal masterminds.

I lived there for 21 years.
I am not at all certain about how she died.
I am open minded where that is concerned.

People magazine quotes the San Bernardino County Sherriff's Department as saying,

"On Sunday, the Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said they found "unidentified human remains" in "the rugged terrain of the open desert of Yucca Valley."

That is NOT a residential area close to the open Highway.

AMOO MOO JMO

EBM to add that I was leaning toward exposure first and foremost.
Wasn't totally sold on murder or suicide.

EBM again to add..your distance to the highway is closer than what I originally thought. Even so, walking in that terrain( it is dirt roads) in the heat can be quickly disorienting. Open desert does not imply a residential neighborhood. So, even with the mistake made in distance, I stand by my post.

 

[Cannolislover]

This is not true at all. <modsnip> The house is less than a mile from the highway and although not in a dense neighborhood, it does have quite a few neighbors close by.



Exposure is very much possible, especially in the desert. Heat stroke can happen suddenly, especially if you add alcohol to the mix. Rumor is she had a bottle with her when she walked off. Although there are places she could have made it to get help, including back to where she came from, that is irrelevant when talking about someone who is despondent. The majority of the time their final location is just out of sight of where they came from.



Because she had been up late the night before being talked out of suicide by all of her friends. They were immediately worried the moment they couldn't find her.

I'm pretty surprised by all the people pushing the idea of foul play here. For that to be true, all of her friends would have had to be in on it. These are just some desert hippy kids, not criminal masterminds.

They're not desert hippie kids, they're desert hippie full grown middle aged adults. Some are high status.

 

[SandSage]

"The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Division has positively identified the human remains to be Lauren Cho, 30-year-old resident of New Jersey. The cause and manner of death is pending toxicology results. No further information will be released on this case until such time toxicology results are available and new information is discovered as a result."

https://local.nixle.com/alert/90556...K4qnX-bveW4zh4askFA46cVttOakAoXpxtl9V1FV__l2o

Rest in peace, El.

 

[sds71]

Lauren Cho case: Human remains found in Yucca Valley identified as missing NJ woman, coroner says

 

[cvaldez1975]

RIP El

 

[MrsWatson]

May El RIP.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Lauren Cho: Remains found in California desert identified as those of missing woman - CNN

Determination of the cause and manner of death is pending toxicology results, the San Bernardino County Coroner's Division said in a news release Thursday.
"No further information will be released on this case until such time toxicology results are available and new information is discovered as a result."

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The cause and manner of death is pending toxicology results,” according to a statement from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office. “No further information will be released on this case until such time toxicology results are available and new information is discovered as a result.”
Remains found in California desert identified as Lauren Cho

 

[tayaway]

RIP, EL.