Officials announced Sunday that they’ve concluded their initial response phase in the ongoing search for a missing Southern California hiker who was last seen on June 22.
“A week ago today, Monica Reza went missing while hiking near Mount Waterman in the Angeles National Forest,” read a message from Acting Captain Ryan A. Vienna, for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Crescenta Valley Station. “While today concludes our initial response phase of this operation, the investigation will continue by our Homicide Bureau: Missing Persons Unit.”
Numerous members of the public and multiple rescue teams joined the search for the 60-year-old hiker, who was considered at risk. According to LASD, Reza does not have any health conditions that would contribute to her disappearance. Her family and loved ones have not heard from her since and are very concerned for her well-being.
Reza, who is an L.A. County resident, is described as a white woman standing around 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 101 pounds. She has brown eyes and gray hair. She was last seen wearing a red long-sleeved shirt, green hiking pants and hiking shoes (pictured above).
“Our hearts go out to Monica’s family, friends, coworkers, and the community who have shown great concern for her disappearance,” continued Vienna’s statement. “We appreciate the numerous members of the public who have reached out to get involved in the search. It is important to understand the area Monica went missing in can be highly technical and difficult for inexperienced hikers. Given this is an ongoing investigation, we would ask the public to avoid actively searching this area. On behalf of the family, we are conveying their request for privacy at this time.”
Anyone who may know Reza’s whereabouts or has information on her disappearance is asked to call LASD’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500. The public can also call the Crescenta Valley Station at 818-248-3464 or Detective Rincon at 323-890-5500.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or go to the lacrimestoppers.org website.
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