Found Deceased CA - Jacob VanZant, 24, At Risk, from Stockton, 2004 white Honda Pilot, last seen 7:30pm leaving Shangri La Restaurant, Lodi, 17 Feb 2023

[Unalienable Rights]

Jacob VanZant was last seen eating at Shangri La Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. (Nor-Cal Alliance for the Missing)

Family seeks public's help to find Jacob VanZant, last seen in Downtown Lodi

Friends and family are asking for the public's help in locating a man who left Downtown Lodi last week and never returned home.

www.lodinews.com

Friends and family are asking for the public's help in locating a man who left Downtown Lodi last week and never returned home.

Jacob VanZant was last seen eating at Shangri La Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 17.

The 24-year-old Stockton man was supposed to pick his girlfriend up from her job after eating, but she and his mother said he never arrived.

"He's a great kid," Joanna VanZant said. "He's never been in any trouble. This is so unlike him. We can't imagine where he'd be."

Joanna VanZant said her son works at Pacific Coast Producers, and typically eats at Shangri La after work before heading to Stockton.

She said investigators searched his credit card transactions from last Friday, and discovered Jacob purchased gasoline at the Costco at Reynolds Ranch before dinner.

Camera footage from the restaurant that night shows nothing out of the ordinary, she said.

"I guess he didn't have his credit card with him to pay for his meal," Joanna VanZant said. "He explained the situation to the restaurant, and he said he'd come back with some sort of payment. They said that was okay because they know him pretty well. I think he went back to Costco to look for the card."

Joanna VanZant said her son's car — a 2004 white Honda Pilot — has not been captured on various surveillance cameras traveling along Lodi city streets that night.

Jacob VanZant was last seen leaving Shangri La at 7:30 p.m. wearing a black-hooded sweater, dark-colored jeans and black boots. He stands about 5-feet, 11-inches tall and has dark brown hair and eyes.

His vehicle's license plate is 5JBC311.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Kristina Deanda at Lodi Police Department at 209-333-6727. Reference case number 23-1088 when calling.

Missing San Joaquin County man deemed at-risk, last seen in Lodi

Jacob VanZant, 24, was last seen leaving a sushi restaurant in Lodi Friday night.

www.abc10.com

LODI, Calif. — Police and family are searching for a man who suddenly went missing just after leaving a sushi restaurant in San Joaquin County Friday evening.

Jacob VanZant, 24, was last seen Feb. 17 leaving Shangri La in Lodi around 7 p.m., Lodi police said.

VanZant is described as a 5’11 man with dark brown hair wearing a black hoodie, dark jeans and black boots. He was driving a white Honda Pilot with license plate number 5JBC311.

According to Lodi police, VanZant is considered at-risk due to the information known about his disappearance at this time.

"This is not like him to just vanished and not communicate with anybody," VanZant's significant other said in a Facebook post. "He’s quiet and charismatic, all of us are very worried sick."

Lodi police encourage anyone with information to contact local law enforcement as the investigation continues.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Nor-Cal Alliance for the Missing Facebook:

Nor-Cal Alliance For The Missing

“Jacob VanZant is still missing. He was last seen Friday at 7:00 leaving Shangri-la in Lodi. He was picking up dinner before heading to pick his girlfriend up from work. He never showed up to pick...

www.facebook.com

“Jacob VanZant is still missing. He was last seen Friday at 7:00 leaving Shangri-la in Lodi. He was picking up dinner before heading to pick his girlfriend up from work. He never showed up to pick her up, which is a first. He's always there when he says he will be. He also didn't show to take his aunt to the airport early the next morning.

His girlfriend Celestial Love is going out of her mind with worry.....and so are his mom Joanna Escher VanZant, his dad, and I. We need him home. Please be on the lookout for him.”

 

[swanniee11]

I am not a member of Costco, any chance they have camera's at the gas station or even inside if he went inside to see if his card was returned? It could give them a good point of searching, Either close to the restaurant or Costco. IMO

 

[NewMommy09]

I strongly feel like he had an accident, possibly distracted looking for his missing credit card as he drove. I'd be checking any embankments, ditches, or bodies of water between the restaurant and Costco. I do hope he's found safe, alive and well.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

Celestial Love is his GF's name. Come home Jacob.

 

[ohemgee.kay925]

Students (including myself) received an e-mail regarding a body being found in the lake on campus of Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, CA, yesterday. So far, I was only able to find one news article regarding the discovery (I'll link it below - if not allowed, please feel free to let me know and/or remove as needed), however Jacob's sister commented on the article about his missing status, asking them to please contact her with any information regarding the body.

"Please if there is any more information on this please contact me. My brother Jacob VanZant went missing over 72 hours ago from lodi. We are working g with police. He was driving a white Honda pilot. Last three digits if his license plate is 311. My number is ###-###-####." I've personally left out the phone number but it's available within the link. Pittsburg and Lodi are about an hour's drive from one another.

Updated: Body Found in Lake at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg

Edited to take out X's from phone number so it didn't reflect as censored.

Editing again to add that KRON4 News website states the body found in the above-mentioned lake is an approximately 25-year old male, but no further details at this time. This is making my tummy a little anxious, to be honest...

KRON4 link: Body found in lake at Los Medanos College

 

[ohemgee.kay925]

I strongly feel like he had an accident, possibly distracted looking for his missing credit card as he drove. I'd be checking any embankments, ditches, or bodies of water between the restaurant and Costco. I do hope he's found safe, alive and well.

The restaurant and Costco are about a seven minute drive from one another. No bodies of water in any form that I can see on the map, however it's hard to gauge the presence of embankments, ditches, etc., as you mentioned.

Here is Google maps link from one location to the other: Shangri La Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar to Costco Wholesale

Edited to add: I was just thinking... I was recently driving home from Sacramento on the 99 and had to pass through Lodi towards Stockton to get onto the 5. If you aren't familiar with the area, driving in the dark there can be pretty haphazard, especially if you accidentally get off the freeway and are not very good with directions like myself. Hoping Jacob is just stuck somewhere but is safe.

 

[10ofRods]

His place of employment, the bistro and the Costco in Lodi are all fairly close together. There appears to be no info on where the girlfriend was located (I was thinking he might have gone ahead and driven in her direction).

It's about a 7-8 minute drive from the Shangri-La Bistro to Costco. If he was headed south to Stockton afterwards, he would not have encountered in bodies of water (he would have had to be heading north of Lodi - to pass near Lodi Lake (and the fastest route would have been a major highway, the 99.

Lodi is about average in terms of violent crime in California (slightly better than average, actually) but most of it takes place in the downtown/adjacent areas.

Stockton, OTOH, is one of the more crime-ridden medium sized cities in California (about 3X higher than the state average).

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

DBM

 

[10ofRods]

The girlfriend's facebook says his phone last pinged in San Francisco. She is organizing searches, but it's very concerning that his phone pinged in SF. Since she's using her FB to organize help for Jacob, I think it's okay to mention what she's saying.

 

[ohemgee.kay925]

The girlfriend's facebook says his phone last pinged in San Francisco. She is organizing searches, but it's very concerning that his phone pinged in SF. Since she's using her FB to organize help for Jacob, I think it's okay to mention what she's saying.

Oh wow. Yes, SF is quite the distance... Thank you for the update on this.

 

[slowpoke]

I strongly feel like he had an accident, possibly distracted looking for his missing credit card as he drove. I'd be checking any embankments, ditches, or bodies of water between the restaurant and Costco. I do hope he's found safe, alive and well.

Or, carjacking? Hope there is news soon. How worrisome.

 

[ohemgee.kay925]

Students (including myself) received an e-mail regarding a body being found in the lake on campus of Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, CA, yesterday. So far, I was only able to find one news article regarding the discovery (I'll link it below - if not allowed, please feel free to let me know and/or remove as needed), however Jacob's sister commented on the article about his missing status, asking them to please contact her with any information regarding the body.

"Please if there is any more information on this please contact me. My brother Jacob VanZant went missing over 72 hours ago from lodi. We are working g with police. He was driving a white Honda pilot. Last three digits if his license plate is 311. My number is ###-###-####." I've personally left out the phone number but it's available within the link. Pittsburg and Lodi are about an hour's drive from one another.

Updated: Body Found in Lake at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg

Edited to take out X's from phone number so it didn't reflect as censored.

Editing again to add that KRON4 News website states the body found in the above-mentioned lake is an approximately 25-year old male, but no further details at this time. This is making my tummy a little anxious, to be honest...

KRON4 link: Body found in lake at Los Medanos College

Quoting myself as the Contra Costa News article has since been removed, however I am unable to edit my original post now. I am finding many other sources for the Los Medanos College discovery now. No additional information at this time to link with Jacob but trying to stay on top of both. Sorry, ya'll.

Now edited to add updated (Tuesday) Contra Costa News article link: Body Found in Lake at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg

 

[PriorTheCreator]

I hope he wasnt, but was he having issues that might lead him to harming himself. The golden gate bridge is a big attractor to those who want to, unfortunately.

I dont know where his phone pinged in SF

 

[ohemgee.kay925]

I hope he wasnt, but was he having issues that might lead him to harming himself. The golden gate bridge is a big attractor to those who want to, unfortunately.

I dont know where his phone pinged in SF

I haven't seen any mention in any of the news or Facebook posts regarding that possibility, but of course, as we know, that doesn't always mean it couldn't be. There were some comments from the family and/or girlfriend along the lines "that he could be anywhere in California." A bit puzzling.

 

[PriorTheCreator]

I haven't seen any mention in any of the news or Facebook posts regarding that possibility, but of course, as we know, that doesn't always mean it couldn't be. There were some comments from the family and/or girlfriend along the lines "that he could be anywhere in California." A bit puzzling.

I am not insinuating anything, just want to make that clear.

I just know the golden gate bridge draws people like that

I really hope he is alright.

 

[ohemgee.kay925]

I am not insinuating anything, just want to make that clear.

I just know the golden gate bridge draws people like that

I really hope he is alright.

Completely understood and agreed on all accounts.

 

[findingjacob]

This is Jacob's sister can did anyone find out about the body found thank you everyone for your information and suggestion as of now we aren't ruling anyone out if anyone wants to help please contact me <modsnip: Removed personal contact information>
- Jessica alonzo

 

[findingjacob]

Hrs a good kid I hope he is ok we are sick with worry please keep us updated

 

[PriorTheCreator]

Hrs a good kid I hope he is ok we are sick with worry please keep us updated

I am hoping for the best. I cant imagine how it feels. Im so sorry.