Found Deceased CA - John Sturkie, 55, planned to go to the beach, Oceanside, San Diego County, 4 Jan 2019

[SoCalDavidS]

I guess I got hooked on this case since Oceanside is about an hour south of me. If there is no real news, is it just a matter of waiting at this point? Seems like the car would turn up eventually, unless of course, it's being hidden somewhere.

<modsnip: not victim friendly>

Edit to add: There's still the possibility he is somewhere and still alive, but given he has kids, that seems less likely IMO.

 

[AmandaSkis]

Hoping I’m wrong but I’m concerned he ended his life. Car accident is always a possibility but I haven’t heard anything more about who was leading the bonfire event, which makes me wonder if that was an actual event.

 

[wary]

Hoping I’m wrong but I’m concerned he ended his life. Car accident is always a possibility but I haven’t heard anything more about who was leading the bonfire event, which makes me wonder if that was an actual event.

It’s very frustrating that we haven’t heard anything to confirm the bonfire event, OR to rule it out.

I’ve wondered about a carjacking that ended with his body being dumped in the underbrush somewhere, and his vehicle ending up in a chop shop near El Cajon.

 

[SoCalDavidS]

It’s very frustrating that we haven’t heard anything to confirm the bonfire event, OR to rule it out.

I’ve wondered about a carjacking that ended with his body being dumped in the underbrush somewhere, and his vehicle ending up in a chop shop near El Cajon.

I think that is telling. If there was a bonfire gathering, why aren't they commenting on what the people present said about his attendance? Wouldn't that be valuable information to give the public, as to where this bonfire was? And then the timing if he did versus did not attend?

<modsnip: not victim friendly>

 

[siliconrod]

Johns' said she was able to track his phone to El Cajon but I am unclear if she was able to locate it and retrieve the phone. I hope LE can retrieve ping information and hopefully track the movement of the phone and possibly retrieve any CCTV video along the route or near its destination. I am curious if John's truck had a GPS/Navigation system that could be access by LE or Toyota.

 

[AmandaSkis]

This case is so quiet. Nothing new posted since two weeks ago but it seems he is still missing. Truck has not been found either.

 

[meanmaryjean]

This case is so quiet. Nothing new posted since two weeks ago but it seems he is still missing. Truck has not been found either.

Which leads me to think he's run off.

 

[jash]

Can't provide links (respecting the TOS) however two fundraisers have been set up.

One is to benefit John's wife and kids -- apparently he was out of work for most of 2018, and only found employment around Christmas time; as a result, they are facing financial hardship and could lose their home.

The other was set up by his side of the family and is to help pay for a private investigator (already hired). There is some interesting information posted. Namely, it says John went missing from the El Cajon area while "visiting a friend", but then in the most recent update it says John's last known location was in the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County. The two are quite a distance apart.

 

[byo]

@jash
El Cajon to Ramona (which is in the SanJac's) is 30 minutes away.

 

[wary]

@jash
El Cajon to Ramona (which is in the SanJac's) is 30 minutes away.

Based on what @jash said, Ramona doesn’t come into the discussion st all. It’s not near Riverside County. And the San Jacinto mountains are quite a ways north of Ramona, too.

So, I think we’re talking about a much greater distance—more like an hour and a half.

 

[byo]

@wary
My mistake! (Ramona's on the Cleveland NF.)

Yeah, it's closer to a couple hours.

Is there a FaceBook page for John?

 

[SoCalDavidS]

There is some interesting information posted. Namely, it says John went missing from the El Cajon area while "visiting a friend", but then in the most recent update it says John's last known location was in the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County. The two are quite a distance apart.

What about the beach bonfire? Why was that thrown out to the public as where he was headed, but nothing has been said about it since? Until there is more information released about the bonfire, I have a hard time believing his wife. Some confirmation would be nice, but it doesn't look like any is forthcoming.

 

[siliconrod]

Can't provide links (respecting the TOS) however two fundraisers have been set up.

One is to benefit John's wife and kids -- apparently he was out of work for most of 2018, and only found employment around Christmas time; as a result, they are facing financial hardship and could lose their home.

The other was set up by his side of the family and is to help pay for a private investigator (already hired). There is some interesting information posted. Namely, it says John went missing from the El Cajon area while "visiting a friend", but then in the most recent update it says John's last known location was in the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County. The two are quite a distance apart.

Its strange that John's side of the family is reporting information that is different from his wife.
What are the circumstances of his last known location. Was this an eyewitness account or CCTV video of him and/or his truck. I am assuming that San Jacinto Mts. would have camp grounds or retreats that he might have visited with the Boy Scouts or church group.

Also one of the fundraiser pages stated that John is a journeyman electrician but was unemployed for most of 2018 but found work around Christmas. I find this odd since the economy is booming and there should be a strong demand for electricians in the building trade.
Maybe John just wanted his life to slowdown. I hope this not a self harm situation.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Can't provide links (respecting the TOS) however two fundraisers have been set up.

One is to benefit John's wife and kids -- apparently he was out of work for most of 2018, and only found employment around Christmas time; as a result, they are facing financial hardship and could lose their home.

The other was set up by his side of the family and is to help pay for a private investigator (already hired). There is some interesting information posted. Namely, it says John went missing from the El Cajon area while "visiting a friend", but then in the most recent update it says John's last known location was in the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County. The two are quite a distance apart.

Is the second page (the one set up by his side of the family) still up? The first one was easy to find, but haven’t been able to find the other one.

 

[jash]

Is the second page (the one set up by his side of the family) still up? The first one was easy to find, but haven’t been able to find the other one.

Try John Mark Sturkie.

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Try John Mark Sturkie.

I found it. Thank you!

 

[dulcinea]

I'm confused! Can someone clarify the San Jacinto Mountain information? The mountains are my "backyard" so this caught my attention. Was he seen or known to be there? This is news to me. Where exactly in the mountains? Two weeks ago we had a horrendous storm come through that wiped out huge parts of two main roads that go up into the mountains. CHP still has some parts closed and other parts are only open by escort or to residents, who were essentially cut off from "civilization" for a few days while repairs were made. Campgrounds were evacuated due to flooding and incredibly dangerous conditions. It was the biggest storm I've experienced since living here for 13.5 years and was made worse because of the devastating wildfires last summer. There was so much police activity up in the mountains that if his truck was abandoned up there it probably would have been located or at least made note of. It is my understanding the northern end of the SJ Mountains was harder hit than the southern end. The southern end would be closer to San Diego County.

 

[moonriverfarm]

Hinky meter on wife's story.

 

[meanmaryjean]

Hinky meter on wife's story.

Agreed

 

[AmandaSkis]

Agreed

In this case, I’m thinking the wife’s story is odd because I think JS might have misled her about where he was going.

I am curious as to how bills were paid if he was out of work for most of 2018.

I am hoping that he took off due to stress.