Cops: Body found in Calif. creek bed likely missing woman
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. -- A decomposed body discovered in a creek bed has been preliminarily identified as Erica Alonso, a southern California woman who vanished in February after going on a Valentine's Day date, officials say.
An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday to identify the remains, according to the Orange County Sheriff's office.
The body was discovered Monday night near San Juan Capistrano, Calif., a short distance off the Ortega Highway near a gully that sits below the highway, about 10-12 miles east of the I-5 freeway, Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman Lt. Jeff Hallock told 48 Hours' Crimesider.
"It wasn't very far in terms of distance off the Ortega Highway," Hallock told CBS LA. "(She) was down in an embankment, kind of a ravine or a creek. I think investigators are very hopeful that they will uncover some evidence that will be very useful during the autopsy."
A group of biologists working in the area made the gruesome discovery. Deputies waited until daylight Tuesday to bring the body out from the rugged terrain due to the area being inaccessible by foot, officials told CBS LA.
Shortly after 9 a.m., homicide detectives were sent to assist with the investigation. It's not yet clear how the woman died.
The remote location is about 30 miles from where Alonso was last seen at her boyfriend's home in Irvine in the early morning hours of Feb. 15.
The Laguna Hills woman, 27, and her on-again, off-again boyfriend, 45, were reportedly offered a ride by a couple from the Sutra Lounge, southeast of Los Angeles, to his home in neighboring Irvine in the early morning hours of Feb. 15, according to CBS LA.
The two had been on a Valentine's Day date, family told Crimesider earlier this month.
The couple that had offered them a ride reportedly left around 3:45 a.m. About 15 minutes later, the boyfriend told police Alonso and he got in a fight, and she stormed off.
Her white 2014 Honda Civic was found in nearby Aliso Viejo, about one mile from her Laguna Hills home, late last month. Neighbors told CBS LA the car had been parked in the area for some time.
Family and friends launched a desperate search and media campaign, offering a $5,000 reward for information.
Isaac Alonso, Alonso's brother, told 48 Hours' Crimesider April 22 that his sister's boyfriend wasn't close with her family, but that the two were trying to work out their on-again, off-again relationship before she vanished.
Alonso's boyfriend has been questioned by investigators, and he's cooperated with police, Hallock told Crimesider April 22.
"We believe he's the last person who saw her, so obviously that causes us to to focus some attention on him," Hallock said.
The boyfriend isn't a suspect and the information he's provided has checked out, Hallock said at the time. He didn't immediately respond to questions regarding whether the boyfriend will be re-interviewed in light of the discovery of the body.
The couple who offered them a ride reportedly contacted authorities after seeing news reports with Alonso's picture.
