Monica Reza was last seen on June 22, hiking near Mount Waterman in the Angeles National Forest, which is just outside of Los Angeles, California. Over the past week, several search efforts have been conducted in the area to locate Reza, but all have been unsuccessful. Montrose Search and Rescue and several other search teams including Altadena Mountain Rescue, Antelope Valley, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, and San Diego Mountain Rescue to name a few, have been contributing to the search effort.
Reza was hiking with two other people the morning of Sunday, June 22. The group of three split up when one of the hikers went ahead to get to the car, leaving Reza and one other hiker together. That was when Reza became separated from the other hiker. According to Crescenta Valley Weekly, Reza left the trail for an unknown reason near the ridgeline, between the elevations of 7,000 and 8,000 feet.
According to Crescenta Valley Station, Sgt. John Gilbert of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department:
“[The friends] go out weekly [to hike] in the area. She is in good shape and is experienced.”
Gilbert also mentioned that search and rescue efforts began on the trail, looking for her or any signs of distress, but nothing was found.
Angeles National Forest is over 700,000 acres in size and consists of rugged terrain and harsh vegetation, which makes search efforts difficult. Despite these challenges, three other hikers have previously been rescued from the area. As of June 29, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Crescenta Valley Station has concluded its initial search, and the investigation will be continued by their Homicide Bureau Missing Persons Unit.
If anyone sees Monica Reza or has any information regarding her whereabouts, please contact the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station at (818) 248-3464 or Detective Rincon at (323) 890-5500.
