Found Deceased CA - Erin Valenti, 33, from Utah, en-route from Palo Alto to San Jose, 7 Oct 2019

[TTF14]

I hope so- I hope phone records confirm they spoke daily. Something not right. Why not take somebody to mentor? Or why not Hubby? Hard to buy, sorry.

What do you mean by "mentor?"

 

[slyfoxfive]

So sad to hear of this outcome. As I read through the thread, I couldn’t help but think of Bryce Laspisa’s disappearance. He was taking Vyvanse and binge drinking, which is believed to have caused a psychotic break. He was on the road back to his parents house, but after multiple checks by roadside assistance and LE, he never made it home, and drove around in the same general area for over 15 hours. Roadside Assistance found him in the same spot over and over again until they followed him until he got onto the interstate. Roommate and his girlfriend were so worried about his behavior in the days prior, they called his parents to make them aware of the situation. The circumstances are not so similar, but I am curious to see the toxicology report on this one.
MOO.

Thoughts to Erin’s family and friends.

 

[Birmingplumb]

What do you mean by "mentor?"

I meant some youg intern type person interested in learning from her - girl. She was networking .

 

[PixieStix]

So sad to hear of this outcome. As I read through the thread, I couldn’t help but think of Bryce Laspisa’s disappearance. He was taking Vyvanse and binge drinking, which is believed to have caused a psychotic break. He was on the road back to his parents house, but after multiple checks by roadside assistance and LE, he never made it home, and drove around in the same general area for over 15 hours. Roadside Assistance found him in the same spot over and over again until they followed him until he got onto the interstate. Roommate and his girlfriend were so worried about his behavior in the days prior, they called his parents to make them aware of the situation. The circumstances are not so similar, but I am curious to see the toxicology report on this one.
MOO.

Thoughts to Erin’s family and friends.

Welcome slyfox!

Yes, Thanks! I knew there was another case besides Karlie and Mitrice that I was thinking about that was similar to this but couldn't remember his name, it's Bryce Laspisa, also such a strange case!

The more I think about it, the angrier I become. I get SJP is understaffed and that there was the planned blackout. However, after LE talked to EV over the phone and determining she was not making sense and exhibiting bizarre behavior, they should, at the very least, changed her status to missing endangered and put an immediate BOLO out for her. To my knowledge, this was not done. Infuriating!

 

[cvaldez1975]

Ok, I’ve made my rounds down in the Almaden area. Not at my computer but a quick rundown of my observations until I can post some pictures later-

Based on my other activities today I took 280 to 85 to the location of her last ping (Vegas and Menlo) and poked around that area. Unfortunately I did not/do not have time to take 85 farther south to then go up 101 like Rosesfromangels suggested (although that is a good idea).

The area of last ping is a little neighborhood (Sunrise Almaden) right next to the Boulder Creek golf club and Almaden Lake Regional Park as you can see on map. Sunrise Almaden neighborhood looked quiet. Meandering little curvy streets and no reason to turn into it really. My guess is she turned in to the neighborhood so she could turn back and go back north on Almaden Expwy to try to get to airport. But just my hunch having driven around down there.

There are a couple of trailheads in the hills there in the Boulder Creek golf club area near her last ping. I drove into that nature area and could see lots of little paths. I printed out some missing flyers before I headed out- so I put one at the trailhead near the supposed ping. There were no other fliers for her.

I also turned into the Almaden Lake Regional Park and put a flier at one of the trailhead entrances right along the lake. Again, no other fliers for her. I did see a missing cat flier however... which was somehow a bit frustrating.

I also looked around some more remote looking parking lots there on Almaden Expwy. And I stopped at the two 76 gas stations nearby and gave them a flier. Neither gas stations had any fliers for EV, and neither of the attendant guys who I spoke had heard about her. The Chevron station near her ping is closed/under construction by the way.

I looked up for drones while I was out and didn’t see any.

So that’s my very brief summary while I’m still out. Will try to upload some pics and more thoughts later.

My general takeaway (besides being sad I saw no posters for her whatsoever) is that she turned into that ”neighborhood of the ping” to turn around- maybe because she could see her phone battery was about to go out. I kept asking myself “if I were in this location and my phone battery died, and I still wanted to get to SJC what would I personally do?”, and I decided I would likely go back the way I’d just come. Which IMO would likely have been back up Almaden Expwy. And then I think Rosesfromangels idea could be her next turn. Or she could have gone north, or really anywhere at that point.

Just a quick update. Wish it were more helpful!

MOO

It was very sweet of you to do this!

I know I’m late and she’s been found. The only way I can imagine her ending up here is if she took 280 to 85, exited Almaden and went south by accident. There is really no reason for her to have ended up where she did. Maybe she noticed it looked like she was leaving the city (it meanders on down that way but more sparse) and was attempting to turn back around and went into the neighborhood? If she was headed to SJC she should ha w got back on 85 and then went north on 87. 101 is out of the way. It will be interesting to find out what happened. Her poor family.

 

[CSIDreamer]

I am sad, lost and have questions. High achiever leaves business and husband to travel alone . How long was she gone from husband and how often while gone did they communicate prior the Monday 3:30 till 11:30 series of calls? Did she suddenly call Monday or did someone call her ? I just know my wife tells me her plans in advance and calls or texts during her trips without me. She goes with a girlfriend or girlfriends. So another question is why travel alone? It was mentioned she went to Laguna Beach on this same trip I believe and there was a photo of some hollywood types and her. It was assumed or mentioned this was related to some "movie" about her ? Really? Who would pay to watch it? <modsnip: not victim friendly> Where did this poor soul go when she left home , business and family and why? Add the if I am not back Monday I died comment. Who revealed this comment here ? This sets her up as possible suicidal. <modsnip: not victim friendly>

If I'm on business, I prefer to travel alone.

 

[Andreee]

I hope so- I hope phone records confirm they spoke daily. Something not right. Why not take somebody to mentor? Or why not Hubby? Hard to buy, sorry.

She is a businesswoman going to a conference and award ceremony. No reason why she shouldn't go alone. Many businessmen travel without spouses as well.

 

[cvaldez1975]

So, a couple more thoughts from my trip down there.

The Almaden Lake and perimeter trail itself is fenced in and closes at sunset. I doubt she or her car will be found in that lake area.

I'm still really disappointed that I saw no fliers whatsoever. I felt like I was trying to bail out a ship with a thimble by putting up just a few of my measly fliers. I wish a full search team could be organized, but I haven't seen anything about that and I've been trying to stay abreast.

I noticed exactly 1 Nissan vehicle (navy Rogue I think) while I was out this afternoon. They are not a popular brand around here. Which may be irrelevant, but just something of note.

The whole Almaden Expressway entrance/exit around the 85 junction is incredibly confusing. I'd forgotten just how, and I actually almost made a wrong turn going north instead of south. Had to swerve into the righthand lane at the last minute when I realized I was going the wrong direction. All to say that I would completely understand her getting turned around in this area.

I did take a bunch of photos, but as I'm looking through them, they are mostly things you could see using Google street view. I also can't figure out how to upload the pics- it says the file is too large for the server to process (I'm very UN-tech-savvy!)

MOO

It’s so sad to me that the next exit she would have encountered was the 87 junction that would have taken her directly to the airport. I think she made the wrong turn getting on 85 it it was easily rectified if she got into her right mind by going up 87. Tragic

 

[Andreee]

If I'm on business, I prefer to travel alone.

It isn't unusual for businesswomen to travel alone nor is it unusual for businessmen to travel alone! I would.

 

[cvaldez1975]

If it did, I'm actually not surprised given how little people seemed to be aware down there (assuming this is in Almaden, which I suppose we don't have confirmation yet). No fliers anywhere I saw even in the area where her phone last pinged.

MOO.

I haven’t caught up so idk if it has been mentioned but Wednesday And Thursday of the time she was missing, San Jose has an emergency power shut off in some parts from the beleaguered power company and it was utter pandemonium. Think, long lines at gas stations, stores sold out of water, it was like a hurricane was coming in FL. Since she was not declared missing in danger, I can see how her news was overshadowed.

 

[Birmingplumb]

It isn't unusual for businesswomen to travel alone nor is it unusual for businessmen to travel alone! I would.

I did not say unusal- as it is not unusal for this to happen as per all the cases here. I just said I don't like the idea and question why ? Is it safer or less safe to travel alone these days?

 

[cvaldez1975]

What is somewhat surprising is that she was found in the car on this residential street and no one noticed. Not anyone that lives right there noticing a car parked for days. Postal workers didn't notice. Police on routine patrol didn't notice a vehicle. Is overnight on-street parking allowed?

Yes, and there are no HOA in that area. San Jose is huge. In typical big city fashion most ppl mind their business so I’m really not surprised she was not noticed, sadly.

 

[happyday]

I hope so- I hope phone records confirm they spoke daily. Something not right. Why not take somebody to mentor? Or why not Hubby? Hard to buy, sorry.

Huh? What’s hard to buy? People travel alone all the time. She was on a business trip.

 

[TTF14]

Was she a vaper? Could she have gotten a tainted cartridge?

 

[cvaldez1975]

Agreed! Walkers, joggers, dog walkers. We would notice someone “living” in a vehicle in the neighborhood.

We have a very large unhoised population and actual streets lined w RV’s w folks living in them. In that particular hood I’m sure someone living in an older car or RV would have been reported quickly. Since her car was newer, I’m of the mind that ppl minded their business and didn’t look inside the car.

 

[Caligirl23]

Any possible chance that this is possibly connected to last weeks kidnap and murder of another tech millionaire in the area, Tushar Atre? Another point I wanted to make is, while viewing her public social media accounts, I noticed she put way too much personal information online, for anyone to see. It's never wise for anyone to keep posting publicly about where you are, your hotel name, where you are visiting next. Especially a young woman traveling alone.

 

[cvaldez1975]

I bet the incidence of blurring in Silicon Valley is higher than the rest of the US. Probably half the people there either work/worked at Google or know someone who does/did.

Lol not natives. Us natives that are being priced out of our own hometown aren’t too thrilled w tech.

 

[Andreee]

I did not say unusal- as it is not unusal for this to happen as per all the cases here. I just said I don't like the idea and question why ? Is it safer or less safe to travel alone these days?

People travel alone (men and women) all the time, for business or otherwise. It isn't always practical for spouses or others to tag along.

 

[cvaldez1975]

So she disappeared during a 17 mile/20 minute drive. Hmmm. What could have intervened that caused her her life?

That’s about a 90 minute drive here on a Monday

 

[crhedBngr]

People travel alone (men and women) all the time, for business or otherwise. It isn't always practical for spouses or others to tag along.

Nor is it feasible. Companies usually don't pay for a spouse's expenses on a business trip.

I'm female, and I've traveled alone many times.