Found Safe CA - Erick Wales, 24, San Diego, 19 April 2010

[powayparent]

The location of the atm is in a completely different direction from his residence from where the car was found. The vast majority of the suicides on the Coronado bridge have been witnessed by motorists. There's no pedestrian walkway (in fact there's not even a shoulder or breakdown lane) so it's very obvious if someone is walking on the bridge because they are literally walking in traffic.

[redsky]

I just can't see someone taking money out of the ATM, and killing yourself. What point does that serve?
This means its either abduction (met with a bad fate) or he disappeared on his own (I would be interested to know how much money he took out, did he wipe out his checking account? We don't know.)

[fran]

I think the reason LE believes Erick is alive, is because his car was located close to where he was allegedly spotted on Wednesday. In this article, A is where the car was located and D is where he was allegedly spotted.

JMHO
fran


http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/...iEeiMVNbQ.cspx

[fran]

I wonder if LE knows who the person was that called in the possible sighting of Erick on Wednesday? Wonder if it could have been someone trying to throw LE off.

Personally, and not trying to sound like an alarmist, but if it were someone I was looking for, I would take a group out to that Mission Trails Regional Park and search. It's close to where he made the ATM withdrawal.

Just a thought,
fran

[mamato2]

I have been following all of your threads and the story on the news (what there is of it). Do the police have an ATM video? If they do - would they tell the public?

I saw a woman was reporting a suicide note and now that video is no where to be found.

I am not familiar with that area of SD but have read that his car was parked near a ramp that a person could easily run up and that the Coronado Bridge is the 7th most popular bridge for suicides.

So many unanswered questions.

[fran]

The friends and family are saying the report of the suicide note is not true. LE still believes Erick is alive. The person who gave the interview wasn't authorized to say what they did. I'll just believe it was someone trying for their 15 minutes.

I thought I saw a picture of him making the withdrawal, but I haven't been able to locate it again today. I THOUGHT he was in his car when doing it. Until I can find it, I'll just consider it my 'bad' memory.

There are so many activities going on in San Diego this weekend, which mean a LOT of people are out and about. Hopefully, IF something happened to Erick, he will be located.

There's the festivities mentioned earlier around the area where his car was located. Then there was a 'clean-up day' organized, picking up trash and litter around the area. Then down-town they had a sleep out type thing where people were taking pledges to raise money for the homeless (my daughter participated in that).

Hopefully Erick will be found safe and sound, and THIS WEEKEND! His family and friends are frantic.

JMHO
fran

PS Welcome to Websleuths Mamato2!

[mamato2]

Thanks Fran!

I pray Erick is found. Soon and unharmed. Many people are worried and it is sad that a missing young man does not get treated the same as a missing young woman. I will keep checking back to see what new leads or theories you all come up with. I know SD is a busy city and it baffles me that it took so long to locate his vehicle.

[liz b.]

The most alarming part of this is that Erick's car was found in Barrio Logan, so many days after he was last seen on video at the ATM. I wonder if someone was parked,and watched him withdraw money,then followed him... Robbed him,and then left his car down in Chicano Park.... All JMO

[mamato2]

Agreed Liz. His route to work ws La Jolla correct? His car was found the total opposite direction and it took 6 days for anyone to even see it? It has the look of foul play and I have a bad feeling about it. I am not familiar enough with the SD neighborhoods, gang activity, and crime rates as we see things can happen ANYwhere... but is the area his car was found known for the most crime (Barrio Logan/Chicano Park)? I have not seen the pics or video from the ATM - was it on the SD news?

[STEADFAST]

Originally Posted by fran

I think the reason LE believes Erick is alive, is because his car was located close to where he was allegedly spotted on Wednesday. In this article, A is where the car was located and D is where he was allegedly spotted.

JMHO
fran


http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/...iEeiMVNbQ.cspx

Those spots may be somewhat close in distance (although neither is easy to reach from the other) but they are worlds apart. The reported, unconfirmed sighting was in the upscale bar and restaurant area called the Gaslamp District, whereas the car was found in the middle of the recruiting grounds for the Mexican drug cartels. (The Barrio Logan gangs have been known to serve as the hitmen for the Mexican Mafia. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2008/apr/15...ime-groups-in/)

Robberies may be even more common in the Gaslamp District, though, since it's full of well-off young locals and tourists. Aggravated assaults are much more common in Barrio Logan.

[STEADFAST]

Originally Posted by mamato2

Thanks Fran!

I pray Erick is found. Soon and unharmed. Many people are worried and it is sad that a missing young man does not get treated the same as a missing young woman. I will keep checking back to see what new leads or theories you all come up with. I know SD is a busy city and it baffles me that it took so long to locate his vehicle.

Heck, there's a whole family missing in similar circumstances to Erick, and I never see anything about it on the news. (The McStay family)

Plus, it's kind of hard for the media to really have a story, if LE and his parents keep saying they're sure he's alive. If he's probably alive, then he's missing of his own accord, and people often don't want to get involved in his business. LE keeps saying they think the McStay family is alive, too, and I think that's why it's not being talked about much on the news.

[powayparent]

Originally Posted by mamato2

Agreed Liz. His route to work ws La Jolla correct? His car was found the total opposite direction and it took 6 days for anyone to even see it? It has the look of foul play and I have a bad feeling about it. I am not familiar enough with the SD neighborhoods, gang activity, and crime rates as we see things can happen ANYwhere... but is the area his car was found known for the most crime (Barrio Logan/Chicano Park)? I have not seen the pics or video from the ATM - was it on the SD news?

The company that he is reported to work for is based in La Jolla but recent reports indicate he worked from home. As far as I know the location where he was headed that particular day isn't known or hasn't been released.

[Bennettras]

So close to the CBB, one could assume (gosh I hate that word) that suicide is a strong possibility. Could also be very possible that he was accosted after or during the ATM withdrawal and the perp(s) enjoyed his car for a while and dumped it at the park. Not an area where a car would have lasted parked there for a few days. Had to be parked there recently, so who had it for the few days? More questions, as is the norm, than answers at this point. Roommate talking about him in the past tense was very odd indeed. Any news on their relationship of late? Problems, distancing, life event changes?

[powayparent]

Not many car thieves would drive a car with such distinctive customized plates around town for very long. If the plates had been switched I'd be more sure of what happened.

[STEADFAST]

Originally Posted by Bennettras

So close to the CBB, one could assume (gosh I hate that word) that suicide is a strong possibility. Could also be very possible that he was accosted after or during the ATM withdrawal and the perp(s) enjoyed his car for a while and dumped it at the park. Not an area where a car would have lasted parked there for a few days. Had to be parked there recently, so who had it for the few days? More questions, as is the norm, than answers at this point. Roommate talking about him in the past tense was very odd indeed. Any news on their relationship of late? Problems, distancing, life event changes?

There's some confusion about who his roommate was. The paper quoted one of his friends, calling him Erick's roommate of five (or six or whatever it was) years. But then another girl was quoted in another article saying her sister was Erick's roommate. Unless all three lived together, I think the first article must have meant that the guy had been Erick's roommate at some time, but not now. (Those links are earlier in this thread.)
It's really odd that there's no clear information about whom he lived with, who last saw him or where he was thought to be going. That is usually the basic information to start people searching.

[KaylynnCouture]

Welcome Mamato2. Great to have you here!

[krista]

Originally Posted by STEADFAST

There's some confusion about who his roommate was. The paper quoted one of his friends, calling him Erick's roommate of five (or six or whatever it was) years. But then another girl was quoted in another article saying her sister was Erick's roommate. Unless all three lived together, I think the first article must have meant that the guy had been Erick's roommate at some time, but not now. (Those links are earlier in this thread.)
It's really odd that there's no clear information about whom he lived with, who last saw him or where he was thought to be going. That is usually the basic information to start people searching.

His roommate is his cousin, and they have lived together for 5+ years. They appear to be VERY close on FB and in recent photos, FWIW.
His gf is KWood, and she and her sister insinuate that Kw was his roommate as well. I'm assuming that she had moved in with him, though it could also be that--since they became close--he'd started staying over at her home more often. I **think** the sisters are saying that KW has started living with the two cousins. IMHO. She also appears to be VERY happy and close with Erick and she and the cousin/roommate appear to be trying to help one another cope (via FB comments).

[krista]

I don't know anything about the area where his car was found, but many who know the area associate it with gang activity and suicides. Since many locals on WS seem to know it's reputation, would it be correct to assume that these things are common knowledge with residents in the region?
My point being, if everyone knows the area has a lot of gang, drug, and suicide problems, wouldn't it be a pretty good spot to dump a vehicle to get LE and the public focused somewhere other than people who may have known Erick and people who may have wanted to target him specifically?

[krista]

Originally Posted by webrocket

This part sounds sooo much like Steven Koecher (only in description of the person not in circumstances).

This straight laced religious man apparently liked Vegas and I've never known any non-gamblers to frequent Vegas. Note I said frequent, not casually visit.

I supposed even those who work from home do visit the office from time to time. There may have been an issue with the hard drive of a computer that needed to be looked at and hence his trip up there.

However, one thing raises a particular red flag. Who was the source of the claim that he was on his way to work? Did that come from a co-worker who was expecting him there? The roommate who may have heard Erick say he was going to work?

The reason I say it is that if he was home based, the story that he was going to work could be a complete lie made up by someone wanting to throw someone off the trail.

I still think that surveillance around the ATM would be most revealing.

Interesting post!! Erick's brother has TWO different poker blogs. He lives in Alaska, but I spent last night 'reading' (nodding off) his blogs about his poker exploits. Has anyone heard or read that Erick was actually expected for work that day? It could very well be that HE was the one who made up the story about work....and that he needed money to pay a bookie or to go play in Vegas?? I'm completely doubting the suicide theory...and I'm not certain that he would be a huge gambler, but a couple of things struck me about his FB site.
1. He has recently started visiting his family more frequently in vegas. (according to both FB and news sources).
2. Again, his brother is clearly very into poker.
3. If you read his FB page over the past year...you'll notice that he says he was working two jobs and hadn't spoken to many people in years. His roommate/cousin says they lived together for 5 years. He was supposedly taking some college course, he was working...but several people comment that they haven't seen him in years, several people mention that he never comes around....they even joke that he won't show up for various events. I didn't think anything of it at all, but I suppose it *could* be that he was busy doing something else...like gambling...which kept him away. I'm just wondering what kind of carjacking takes place at 6:50am......seems rather unlikely, IMHO. It would be really helpful to know how much money was taken out...enough for lunch money, or way more?? IMHO.

[TravelingBug]

Originally Posted by krista

I don't know anything about the area where his car was found, but many who know the area associate it with gang activity and suicides. Since many locals on WS seem to know it's reputation, would it be correct to assume that these things are common knowledge with residents in the region?
My point being, if everyone knows the area has a lot of gang, drug, and suicide problems, wouldn't it be a pretty good spot to dump a vehicle to get LE and the public focused somewhere other than people who may have known Erick and people who may have wanted to target him specifically?

Absolutely. Everyone knows Chicano Park/Barrio Logan/etc. are NOT areas you want to be around unless you truly needed to be. Definite gang/drug issues, and suicides from the CBB.

To be honest, I actually think the opposite...well, in one respect. It'd be a horrible place to dump the car because it'd attract immediate attention...a car, especially with personalized plates, would stand out down there. So it'd immediately get LE attention on it and would immediately help them hone their theories on what had happened to him because they now know definitively he's not with his car.

Yes, it might cause the focus that direction, but proximity wise, it's already in the direction away from his house that the first sighting was reported, so unless that was also a red herring, then maybe it might temporarily refocus it.

It also showed he's almost certainly not in Vegas, as we now know he's separated from his car. Unless there's someone 'helping' him and that's how he got there...and yet another person who then dumped the car either early Saturday morning or overnight Friday.

As we've seen with the McStay family, if you really want to complicate an investigation, dump the car near the border and have anyone remotely resembling whoever's missing cross the border and be caught on film...and that'll stall and confuse which way LE is going to look.

I think, if anything, this would heighten LE's concern, despite what friends were trying to say earlier today. Not a lot of scenarios that end up with his car in that area that are favorable, IMO.

[TravelingBug]

Originally Posted by krista

<snip>
I'm just wondering what kind of carjacking takes place at 6:50am......seems rather unlikely, IMHO. It would be really helpful to know how much money was taken out...enough for lunch money, or way more?? IMHO.

I agree. I think the carjacking idea is very unlikely, at least not AT the ATM. That area is too high traffic, even early morning.

Away from the ATM area, maybe...but again, it wasn't so early that something like that wouldn't have been noticed, I don't think. Unless it was in a higher crime area...but then we have the issue of why he'd be there earlier in the morning...and where the car was between the incident and yesterday morning. It'd not have lasted long, especially not intact, in Chicano Park/Barrio Logan.

This is all very weird.

[STEADFAST]

Originally Posted by krista

I don't know anything about the area where his car was found, but many who know the area associate it with gang activity and suicides. Since many locals on WS seem to know it's reputation, would it be correct to assume that these things are common knowledge with residents in the region?
My point being, if everyone knows the area has a lot of gang, drug, and suicide problems, wouldn't it be a pretty good spot to dump a vehicle to get LE and the public focused somewhere other than people who may have known Erick and people who may have wanted to target him specifically?

Yes, absolutely. It would have the reputation in San Diego as being the most dangerous place here. (I don't think it actually has the worst crime statistics in reality, though.)

[cats5vegas]

I too have been following the disappearances of the McStay family and Steven Koecher. I'm still a newbie to WS, but I can imagine the frustration of everyone involved when you don't even know IF a crime has been committed. I hope that if I ever go missing, everyone will assume that it is a crime until proven otherwise. Praying that Erick is found soon and safe.

[mamato2]

Erick's current roommate is Kelly Wood. He had a roommate for 7 years (Joshua Zimmerman) who is Erick's brother in law's (Jeremiah Zimmerman's) brother. Jeremiah's wife is Erick's sister. The Zimmerman boys are in the band The Silent Comedy out of SD. So the papers that quote Joshua Zimmerman and then say "his roommate of 7 years" ~ mean WAS his roommate of 7 years. An article said he lived in the Mission Valley area with his girlfriend Kelly Wood.

The brother with the poker blog in Alaska is his half brother and he has another half brother. Both have blogs and twitter a lot - I have read their posts about the disappearance. I do not think poker or gambling has anything to do with him being missing... just my opinion.

I agree w/Cats 5 Vegas - it has got to be agonizing not knowing and waiting for answers and having everyone speculate. I too pray he is found safe.

[webrocket]

Originally Posted by fran

Good youtube..............shows Erick talking etc.

fran



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPGe2pg2pK0

Erick Wales Missing

Is it just me or did anyone else get the creeps looking at Erick's long-time (past or present) roommate who was interviewed in this clip?