Sutter County sheriff takes lead in finding missing student from Yuba College
“We firmly believe in our hearts that Aly is alive and needs our help.”
That’s what family members communicated in a written statement read aloud at a press briefing Friday afternoon about a missing Gridley woman last seen in Yuba City.
The Sutter County Sheriff’s Office will now be the lead agency in the search for missing Yuba College student Alycia Yeoman, 20.
The FBI said it is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the location of Alycia.
Gridley-Biggs Police Chief Dean Price said SCSO will take the lead “due to the best and last known information of Aly’s whereabouts at the time of her disappearance in Sutter County.”
Yeoman’s mother, Paula, and father, Daniel, as well as other extended family members, appeared alongside Price as their statement was read.
“Aly, if you’re hearing this, we have come together from all across the country,” the family’s statement read. “We love you and are desperately doing everything we can to get you home safe again.”
Law enforcement officials otherwise remained tight-lipped about the ongoing investigation, saying all leads are being followed and taken seriously.
Sutter County Undersheriff Jeff Pierce con-
firmed several members of Yeoman’s family received messages online, but would not comment on the specifics. When asked if there is a ransom, Price answered around it by saying the messages are being investigated.
“I apologize for any misunderstanding for anything that I may have said or that may have believed to have been said... investigators are addressing any and all these messages that may have been received by the family in locating Aly,” Price said.
Officials also remained mum on questions from the press about the possibility of a kidnapping, foul play, and any evidence or sightings of Yeoman.
The following is what is known, as outlined by Pierce during the press conference:
Yeoman was reported missing by her family April 1 around 11 a.m. after she missed work shifts at McDonald’s and Starbucks in Gridley. The family statement said that it is extremely out of character for her to miss work.
The last known confirmed personal contact with Yeoman was Thursday, March 30, at 7:51 p.m. At that time, she was driving her green Toyota Tacoma in the 1800 block of Romero Street in Yuba City.
Shortly after that, communication with Yeoman ceased by personal contact and via cellphone communications.
Yeoman’s cellphone pinged around 4:30 a.m. Monday in an empty field across the street from Wal-Mart in Yuba City.
Yeoman’s truck was spotted in a Live Oak orchard Friday, but farmworkers reported it missing Monday, after it hadn’t moved all weekend. Her cellphone was also found near the truck. At least one set of footprints was found nearby.
On Thursday, the FBI joined Sutter County Sheriff’s Office in serving a search warrant to the residence in Yuba City where Yeoman was last seen. No further information was given.
Officials stated they would not comment further on statements so as to not jeopardize the integrity of the investigation. They are investigating electronic devices, social media and interviews with family and friends.