CA CA - Sydney “Syd” West, 19, University of CA student, San Francisco, 30 Sept 2020

[Dnp2be]

I truly can’t believe she hasn’t been found yet. This is so concerning and although I know it’s possible, the more time that passes, the harder I find it to believe it is by choice. Part of me wants to believe she would have also been found if it was an accident/self inflicted but there’s some weird stuff going on these days. Bodies showing up somewhere clearly searched many times before...etc. I hope this girl is found soon. She’s a beautiful girl with her whole life ahead of her.

 

[Janeumayer]

Here’s an article about a man who jumped off the bridge in February and was found 10 miles away in Monterey Bay in March.

Body found in Monterey Bay identified as man who jumped from Golden Gate Bridge

 

[azure]

This case reminds me very much of the Linnea Lomax case. Sadly, I think it will have a similar outcome.

Parents detail Linnea findings; mom came across body

 

[Dnp2be]

This case reminds me very much of the Linnea Lomax case. Sadly, I think it will have a similar outcome.

Parents detail Linnea findings; mom came across body

Oh how terrible. I hope not but you may be right.

 

[Janeumayer]

Old New Yorker article on Golden Gate Bridge jumpers. If you scroll down a bit, it mentions a teenager case. Wondering if any similarities can be found on Sydney’s web search history.

Jumpers

 

[MassGuy]

Old New Yorker article on Golden Gate Bridge jumpers. If you scroll down a bit, it mentions a teenager case. Wondering if any similarities can be found on Sydney’s web search history.

Jumpers

There’s a documentary on it as well, called “The Bridge.” They set up a couple cameras and captured most of the 24 suicides that occurred there in 2004.

 

[Janeumayer]

There’s a documentary on it as well, called “The Bridge.” They set up a couple cameras and captured most of the 24 suicides that occurred there in 2004.

Oh wow. I’m sure it must be hard to watch.

 

[anneg]

Syd’d vigil was video recorded & can be seen at #FindSydneyWest FB. It lasted a bit over an hour & featured Syd’s songs, memories & messages from friends & fam. I just get the impression they are all lost- understandably so. About 85% ish of the language used was past-tense. As expected, I think they fear the worst but are trying to hope for the best. Up until now, I’ve thought perhaps purposely dropped off-grid. But now I’m thinking water. Truly hope to be wrong.

I watched portions of the vigil. Her father spoke for a few minutes and became emotional, and spoke directly to Sydney. A bit later, her mother tried to speak but broke down.

My heart is heavy and it's hard to believe that Sydney will be coming home. I fear you are right about water. Praying for the family and all who love Syd.

 

[JudgeJoe]

Does any local person know .... are all/most cases that end up in the water found at some point in time?

With the ocean on one side and the bay on the other side, just wondering which way the prevalent tide flows during the early morning. If that bears any relevance.

I’m sure very relevant. Top teams of experts have studied this to analyze the Alcatraz escape. And LP & baby. Tides, wind, weather all impact whether a person returns to shore or ends up out to sea. It’s a horrible reality to face.

 

[moody_chicago]

RBBM

I think it is extremely difficult for any family to be in the position that Syd's family finds itself. It must be devastating. I can't imagine the fear, the stress etc. etc. I, personally, would need serious meds to get me through.

You know, as young adults, our families (parents) are not privy to what we do on a daily basis. My parents never knew who I dated or what I was up to when I left home. They would have been hard pressed to come up with answers to a lot of questions LE would be posing. Syd's parents may be in the same boat.

Some of us, as younger adults, do things that we regret later and our families would be horrified to find out what we did in our "free time".

I think Syd's family is trying desperately to protect Syd's privacy. Perhaps some things have come to light, and if Syd had left of her own free will, divulging that information to the world could be a tipping point for her mentally. We already know, that she has a tendency to struggle.

Although, knowing everything, Good or Bad, is invaluable in figuring out these kinds of situations, I understand how a parent would move into the "protector" role and try to keep things that are private just that.

Just MOO in a very sad and difficult situation for friends and family.

MOO
I also feel like they’re kinda withholding some info trying to protect her.

I’m trying to think of what my family would do in a situation like this...I haven’t used fb in months, I post on Instagram 1x every 2 months and they’re usually just old pics, I really struggle with my mental health...it truly wouldn’t look good. How much would they want the public to know about me and my problems? How much would *I* want them to know? As a pot smoker, would they call me a drug addict? And would people “blame” my friends and family for not “doing more” to help or not “seeing the signs” and intervening?
If I got abducted or murdered, I strongly believe people would probably be so super duper fixated on the theory that I had taken my own life that it’s difficult to say how much they’d explore other possibilities.

I think that’s something we need to consider. Some people could be judging the friends or family about her possibly being depressed and them not doing enough. I’m sure her uncle especially is dealing with a lot of guilt just thinking about the possibility that she self harmed. jmo

 

[moody_chicago]

Agree and the fact the LE does not seem involved in a meaningful way. Possibly they held the vigil to speak to her and assure her no matter what she is loved and wanted at home. Otherwise, they would have been in SF conducting ground searches for any clues, etc. which would have brought a lot of attention to the case. She does seem to have an amazing life and supportive family. There is no roadmap for being 19 in a pandemic so I really hope she is just taking a break and will reach out soon.

Wait they didn’t even do ground searches?

 

[SouthAussie]

I’m sure very relevant. Top teams of experts have studied this to analyze the Alcatraz escape. And LP & baby. Tides, wind, weather all impact whether a person returns to shore or ends up out to sea. It’s a horrible reality to face.

I have found a couple of things on Wiki. It sounds as if - should Syd have gone into the water - there is more chance that she will be found than not.

I still wonder about Syd's intentions though. I get the impression that she might have been seen/recorded walking towards Crissy Field. I wish we knew from which direction she was coming. From the bridge direction or toward the bridge direction.


(Somewhat paraphrased for attempted sensitivity)

Most jumps from the bridge have occurred on the side facing the bay. The side facing the Pacific is closed to pedestrians.

There were 34 bridge-jumps in 2006 who were recovered, in addition to four jumps that were witnessed but who were never recovered, and several recovered suspected to be from bridge jumps.
Currents beneath the bridge are strong and some jumpers have more than likely been washed out to sea without being seen.

Golden Gate Bridge

 

[JudgeJoe]

I have found a couple of things on Wiki. It sounds as if - should Syd have gone into the water - there is more chance that she will be found than not.

I still wonder about Syd's intentions though. I get the impression that she might have been seen/recorded walking towards Crissy Field. I wish we knew from which direction she was coming. From the bridge direction or toward the bridge direction.


(Somewhat paraphrased for attempted sensitivity)

Most jumps from the bridge have occurred on the side facing the bay. The side facing the Pacific is closed to pedestrians.

There were 34 bridge-jumps in 2006 who were recovered, in addition to four jumps that were witnessed but who were never recovered, and several recovered suspected to be from bridge jumps.
Currents beneath the bridge are strong and some jumpers have more than likely been washed out to sea without being seen.

Golden Gate Bridge

I saw that link too... I’m sure someone has compiled data on how long it takes for a body to wash to shore- average time & range. But I couldn’t locate organized stats. Articles seem to range from around 1-3 weeks with some outliers of course. Over 2 weeks now...

Hopefully this theory is all wrong & she’ll come forward after seeing comments in her vigil. She is loved, admired & respected as a compassionate, kind person.

 

[anneg]

Old New Yorker article on Golden Gate Bridge jumpers. If you scroll down a bit, it mentions a teenager case. Wondering if any similarities can be found on Sydney’s web search history.

Jumpers

Thanks for this link--it's a very interesting article.

 

[JudgeJoe]

Slightly OT: Just found out my daughter’s winter quarter will be online- again. And who knows about spring?! That’ll be at least 4 quarters in a row- 1 full year of limited interactions. This damn virus is brutal for college age adults. They are not wired to be isolated in this phase of life, imo. If you know a college-age person, reach out. Pop a line on FB, IG, snail mail, text. Call. Put a bouquet of flowers or peanut butter cups on their porch. Remind them they are important. Jmvho

PS: From Syd’s vigil, peanut butter cups are her favorite.

 

[SouthAussie]

Slightly OT: Just found out my daughter’s winter quarter will be online- again. And who knows about spring?! That’ll be at least 4 quarters in a row- 1 full year of limited interactions. This damn virus is brutal for college age adults. They are not wired to be isolated in this phase of life, imo. If you know a college-age person, reach out. Pop a line on FB, IG, snail mail, text. Call. Put a bouquet of flowers or peanut butter cups on their porch. Remind them they are important. Jmvho

PS: From Syd’s vigil, peanut butter cups are her favorite.

In Victoria, the Year 12 students were struggling with being isolated during their final - and what should be fun but hard work - semester of high school.

Good people got gift bags together for them and delivered them. I thought it was a great idea. They were not forgotten and were encouraged.

https://www.balcc.vic.edu.au/year-12-gift-bag-delivery

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Please remind me, at what time did she catch her train into SF, and at what time was she last seen?

 

[JudgeJoe]

Please remind me, at what time did she catch her train into SF, and at what time was she last seen?

Did we ever know that?

 

[Kaligirl]

I truly can’t believe she hasn’t been found yet. This is so concerning and although I know it’s possible, the more time that passes, the harder I find it to believe it is by choice. Part of me wants to believe she would have also been found if it was an accident/self inflicted but there’s some weird stuff going on these days. Bodies showing up somewhere clearly searched many times before...etc. I hope this girl is found soon. She’s a beautiful girl with her whole life ahead of her.

I agree, the whole thing is heartwrenching. I just want to hug this amazing young woman and let her know how valuable her future is to all of us. I joined his site and got involved because of Sydney -- she reverberates compassion, love and light, she reminds me so much of my own daughter who is a freshman in college this year. My daughter worked incredibly hard, had straight A's and a 1550 SAT, and did not get into her dream college... and then came the pandemic so she can't even go to the college that so was far down on her list. This year sucks but this too shall pass and we truly need kids like Sydney to take the helm. I pray that Syd will come home, she is loved not only by her family but by a much larger universe.

 

[katydid23]

The vigil live stream is available on the Find Sydney West Facebook page now. I am working so I can't watch it, but just a heads up to anyone who wants to/can.

Edit: I skipped to about 20 min in and have watched a few minutes of it. Per Sydney's dad, he says that point of the vigil is to raise the volume about Syd's disappearance. He also says there is an ongoing search, and that investigators are trying to follow up on leads. He says that Syd may be trying to make her way home from the west coast. I don't know if that's just blind hope, or if there's something that makes them think that.

That sounds like blind hope. Surely she knows she could pick up a phone and be flown home immediately if she just asked. JMO