Cops: Cause of death unclear in Calif. missing case
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. -- After an autopsy, officials haven't been able to determine a cause of death for a woman preliminarily identified as missing southern California resident Erica Alonso.
Alonso vanished in February after going on a Valentine's Day date, officials say. The body was discovered by a group of biologists Monday night near San Juan Capistrano, Calif. in a gully beneath a highway, Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman Lt. Jeff Hallock told 48 Hours' Crimesider.
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 body showed no obvious physical signs of trauma, according to a sheriff's department statement, and the cause of death was listed as "undetermined."
Officials collected fingerprints during the autopsy Wednesday and they were being matched with state records to confirm the body's identify. Confirmation is expected late Wednesday or Thursday, officials say.
Alonso vanished after a Valentine's Day date with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, family told "48 Hours" Crimesider earlier this month.
The Laguna Hills woman and the boyfriend 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 Los Angeles.
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 that she stormed off.
Her white 2014 Honda Civic was found late last month in nearby Aliso Viejo, about one mile from her home. Neighbors told CBS Los Angeles 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, Lt. 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. Hallock 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.
