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

[krista]

Originally Posted by webrocket

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?

Lol...no, all of my ex-boyfriends look like that!!
It does bother me a little that he talks about Erick in past tense. Not good, but based on everything we know so far about the car and about Erick, he may just be trying to deal with the most likely scenario, sadly!

[STEADFAST]

Originally Posted by krista

Lol...no, all of my ex-boyfriends look like that!!
It does bother me a little that he talks about Erick in past tense. Not good, but based on everything we know so far about the car and about Erick, he may just be trying to deal with the most likely scenario, sadly!

But that interview where he speaks of Erick in the past tense and talks about how much he misses him happened less than 48 hours after Erick went missing. The car hadn't been found at that time, and as far as I know, there was no reason at all to think Erick hadn't just taken off. I find it odd. It might not be significant, but I can sure think of some scenarios where it would be significant.
It's frustrating because, if Erick is as upstanding, dependable, and well-balanced as his friends and family believe, then something bad must have happened to him. If he's fine someplace, then he's different than what they think.

[mamato2]

Could it be possible that nothing happened to him and he just left on his own? Not sure how often a person reported missing ends up just having left- sick of his/her life, needing a change, etc. Also not sure how he would be getting around w/o his car and having no one see him... wonder if they have checked the airport?

[KaylynnCouture]

Originally Posted by mamato2

Could it be possible that nothing happened to him and he just left on his own? Not sure how often a person reported missing ends up just having left- sick of his/her life, needing a change, etc. Also not sure how he would be getting around w/o his car and having no one see him... wonder if they have checked the airport?

It's possible. It's possible in every missing persons case, honestly. Believe it or not, people do that (Tiffany Tehan being the most recent case that comes to mind).

I agree that checking the airport (I wonder if Erick had a passport?) is a good start. Also, checking his computer for airline purchases, Google searches, etc.

I'm still not convinced that Erick left on his own (primarily, I guess, because of where his car was found abandoned) but the possibility is always out there, with every case.

[Calliope]

Originally Posted by STEADFAST

But that interview where he speaks of Erick in the past tense and talks about how much he misses him happened less than 48 hours after Erick went missing. The car hadn't been found at that time, and as far as I know, there was no reason at all to think Erick hadn't just taken off. I find it odd. It might not be significant, but I can sure think of some scenarios where it would be significant.
It's frustrating because, if Erick is as upstanding, dependable, and well-balanced as his friends and family believe, then something bad must have happened to him. If he's fine someplace, then he's different than what they think.

Which would explain the "past tense" by the friend.

[fran]

Well, it looks like they haven't found Erick yet and he's already 'yesterday's news.' Couldn't find any updated reports.

His family needs to organize a search and, or have a candle-lite vigil. That should spark continued interest.

He has to be somewhere.

fran

[mamato2]

I checked the Facebook site for Erick and people are suggesting a vigil or search... no word and I have not seen anything either Fran. Today's lead story was on fire rings. How frustrating.

[heartfortruth]

Originally Posted by fran

Well, it looks like they haven't found Erick yet and he's already 'yesterday's news.' Couldn't find any updated reports.

His family needs to organize a search and, or have a candle-lite vigil. That should spark continued interest.

He has to be somewhere.

fran

bumping.......yes, WHERE is Erick? So curious as to why it seems there is not much interest in this case.

[powayparent]

There's very limited information that has been released: no destination on Monday, no condition or contents of his car, no ATM picture or video, no public searches or vigils.

I hope he's found and have posted in my community but am puzzled about the lack of information.

[STEADFAST]

Here's a link to a page with a bunch of pictures of Chicano Park where his car was found. Basically, it's a park underneath the ramps to the Coronado Bay Bridge and has been decorated by amazing artwork on the supports.
http://www.miracosta.edu/home/jimsul...muralshome.htm

Also, here's a link to the Twitter page for Erick, where news is updated quickly. (Not that there's been any.) http://twitter.com/finderickwales

The only thing I can think of at this moment is that no body being found is a good sign.

[krista]

I found this virtual tour of Chicano Park...very useful, IMHO, for those of us not familiar with the area and park: http://www.chicanoparksandiego.com/v...tvr/node1.html

I'm thinking that--in the 3rd 'virtual tour' that is where Erick's vehicle was likely parked. I dunno about the rest of you, but I was expecting a park. This isn't as much a park as it is a tiny play area and a swath of grass underneath a bunch of bridges, IMHO. I was really expecting something completely different. There's no feasable reason for him to have been here....it isn't a 'park' in the sense that there are benches, walking trails, historical markers, etc. He doesn't have kids and doesn't have any direct connection to the Hispanic community, so I can't figure out any viable reason he would park his car here. I also can't find any valid reason he would have wanted to kill himself.

I agree that the only 'good' thing is that his body hasn't been found, but I don't think that will play out in his favor, sadly. It's just so unlike Erick to do something like this...so even IF he were depressed or wanted to get away for a while, I see him telling someone, not just ditching his car in Chicano park, IMHO. Sad that there have been so few updates in this case. The family and friends have done everything possible to get Erick's story out there. Hopefully a vigil can help with publicity, but I think it's gonna take someone within the Hispanic community to come forward with some new info. IMHO.

So what we don't know that would be helpful:

1. Where he actually lives.. what is his address?
2. Where was the job he was headed to that morning? Was he headed to the main office? Or to a customer location?
3. How much money did he take out of the ATM? Was this an ATM he visited frequently? Chances are, when you visit an ATM, it is one you use regularly... so, chances are, again, that he lives NEAR this ATM.
4. Where is the video of him at the ATM? My assumption is that he was alone at the ATM or.. if he wasn't, the police/family recognize a passenger. Otherwise, they would release the video, and ask for public help finding said person...
5. Was there, or wasn't there a suicide note? If there was, does the handwriting match his?
6. What was found in the car. What was missing from the car? (stereo, etc?)

7. Sightings of him on 5th (at the Gaslamp) aren't exactly going to be totally credible. The Gaslamp is the 'party' area of downtown SD.. and as such, there are both a LOT of people.. and a lot of DRUNK people... My thoughts are to completely discredit the sighting as authentic. Much like the internet meme of 'no screenshot, didn't happen'... Can't prove it, have to ignore it for now.
8. The car did end up in a bad neighborhood, under the Coronado bridge... I would venture to guess, though, that most people have no idea where the end of the Coronado bridge is in San Diego as most people get to it from the 5.. as such, if he were able to walk up the bridge and jump without ANYONE seeing him do so, then it would have to have been REALLY late at night/early morning. If the bridge were that empty, then why wouldn't you take the route you know best to get to the bridge.. take the freeway up and over, stop on the top, get out and jump. He didn't jump from this bridge.. I think this is just where the car ended up, and not by his hand. I bet we find that there are missing things from the car....

Yes, it's encouraging that no body has been found.. but it MAY also be encouraging that the police aren't going to the public for help because they don't need it at the moment?

[RubyRed]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ht4YDxZpRB...N+DIEGO+CA.jpg

[STEADFAST]

Originally Posted by Basic

So what we don't know that would be helpful:

1. Where he actually lives.. what is his address?
2. Where was the job he was headed to that morning? Was he headed to the main office? Or to a customer location?
3. How much money did he take out of the ATM? Was this an ATM he visited frequently? Chances are, when you visit an ATM, it is one you use regularly... so, chances are, again, that he lives NEAR this ATM.
4. Where is the video of him at the ATM? My assumption is that he was alone at the ATM or.. if he wasn't, the police/family recognize a passenger. Otherwise, they would release the video, and ask for public help finding said person...
5. Was there, or wasn't there a suicide note? If there was, does the handwriting match his?
6. What was found in the car. What was missing from the car? (stereo, etc?)

7. Sightings of him on 5th (at the Gaslamp) aren't exactly going to be totally credible. The Gaslamp is the 'party' area of downtown SD.. and as such, there are both a LOT of people.. and a lot of DRUNK people... My thoughts are to completely discredit the sighting as authentic. Much like the internet meme of 'no screenshot, didn't happen'... Can't prove it, have to ignore it for now.
8. The car did end up in a bad neighborhood, under the Coronado bridge... I would venture to guess, though, that most people have no idea where the end of the Coronado bridge is in San Diego as most people get to it from the 5.. as such, if he were able to walk up the bridge and jump without ANYONE seeing him do so, then it would have to have been REALLY late at night/early morning. If the bridge were that empty, then why wouldn't you take the route you know best to get to the bridge.. take the freeway up and over, stop on the top, get out and jump. He didn't jump from this bridge.. I think this is just where the car ended up, and not by his hand. I bet we find that there are missing things from the car....

Yes, it's encouraging that no body has been found.. but it MAY also be encouraging that the police aren't going to the public for help because they don't need it at the moment?

l
Very helpful summary, Basic! Welcome to WS!

One thing about the bridge -- It has no pedestrian walkway, no shoulders, no bike path, and it's pretty close to a mile from the highway ramps over Chicano Park to the part of the bridge that's over water. You'd have to walk in a traffic lane on the bridge all the way over the park, over a good part of Barrio Logan, across 5 -lane Harbor Drive then over the shipyards. It would make much more sense for someone to try walking onto the bridge from the Coronado side, where the access to the bridge is at ground level and the bridge goes over water almost immediately.
But even then, surely someone would see you, since you'd be walking in a traffic lane. The bridge has traffic at all hours. I haven't seen any news reports of anyone walking on the bridge to commit suicide; all I've seen is that people drive onto it, stop the car and jump over.

[ccargirl]

As of right now, SD police are starting to report that it appears he might have left on his own....

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2...-have-left-hi/

[STEADFAST]

Originally Posted by ccargirl

As of right now, SD police are starting to report that it appears he might have left on his own....

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2...-have-left-hi/

They are confirming that there was a note left in the car. I sure would like to know what it said.
The family seems to believe he may be wandering around in a fugue state or something like that. Maybe they'll find him among the homeless downtown.

[dreamweaver]

Curiouser and Curiouser.
Mon., 6:30am: Erick leaves his home that he shares with his gf to to a job
that required him to be in San Diego.
6:50am: Erick is at an atm. No mention if withdrew or deposited. No mention if used the drive up atm.
8:00am: GF calls him on his I Pod. Goes to voice mail.
4:00am: next day, he is reported missing. Unknown who reported him missing.
Sat., 9:00am, his car found in an alleged notorious neighborhood.

Supposed 'note' found in car. This verified by LE. Note contents unknown.
>> passerby the car said the note was on the dashboard and mentioned suicide.
>>> LE acknowledges the note and says they think Erick disapeared on his own.
>>>>Family say the note makes them think Erick is acting outside of his usual mind and that no discoveries that have been found clearly state that Erick harmed himself.
bbm...

IMO:
This clean cut, self described nerd, with a fun filled weekend behind him,
a girl friend, a job he seemed to like,
vanishes after an atm visit at 6:50am.
IPod that he used for everything turned off or to vm.
Now, a note that shows he is not acting so much like himself.

I agree with other posters:
Did he take money out of the atm?
When was the car parked under the bridge?

Questions:
If he planned to leave, start over, why?
If he did have any gambling debts, and did not have money to pay them,
then would he have 'borrowed' money from someone in the bridge neighborhood? Although, even I find that unlikely.

I hope things turn out for the best.
It is kind of looking a little bleak at this point.

Thanks for the welcome!

After viewing his facebook, it seems that he was last seen on Aero and Ruffin road. These two roads cross twice, 5 blocks from each other. This is all right around the SD Police department, Fry's, a colocation facility and an FBI office.. all viable locations and reasons for him being there. That said.. his facebook also mentions that he was supposedly headed to a 'colo facility' that his girlfriend thinks is on Scranton. Apparently, they checked, and he never made it to the colocation facility.

If the facility truly is on Scranton (and there are a few colo facilities on Scranton, and this location makes sense) then his route North on 15 to 52 west to 805 north would have made sense assuming he lives near the 15 and not near the 805. Of course, since he never made it there, and instead, his car was found far south.. who knows what happened.

Even if he left of his own volition, though.. I have a hard time thinking that he would willfully park his car in a neighborhood that SCREAMS 'danger!' and just walk away.. unless something snapped inside of him..

[heartfortruth]

Originally Posted by STEADFAST

They are confirming that there was a note left in the car. I sure would like to know what it said.
The family seems to believe he may be wandering around in a fugue state or something like that. Maybe they'll find him among the homeless downtown.

Are we to assume that the "note" was the only thing of interest found in his car? If there was any mention of anything else about / in the car (other than where it was found and how it was parked) that would provide any helpful information I have missed it.

Thanks to all who have followed this story , provided info and links and especially providing local info. I guess one of the reasons this has grabbed me is that I have a son in CA. May Erick return safely to those who love him.

Originally Posted by heartfortruth

Are we to assume that the "note" was the only thing of interest found in his car? If there was any mention of anything else about / in the car (other than where it was found and how it was parked) that would provide any helpful information I have missed it.

Thanks to all who have followed this story , provided info and links and especially providing local info. I guess one of the reasons this has grabbed me is that I have a son in CA. May Erick return safely to those who love him.

Yes.. I would be interested to know what else was in the car. Was his phone there?

Now, reading the messages his GF left for him on FB.. It seems that there may be some sort of pressure on him, and that he may have a hard time letting go of it.. or.. it could be an assumption on her part.. but either way, the only thing it appears his GF can find are daily pressures.. so.. again, I have a really hard time thinking he just up and left without SOME sort of motivation more than 'it sounds like fun'....

With a job, girlfriend, apparently decent living situation, car (with vanity plates), iPhone.... You would think his life was pretty normal and he wasn't struggling financially, at least...

Something just isn't adding up. I want to see the note, and then know if any of the note sounds like him.. it isn't difficult to aim a weapon at someone and force them to write a note..... And, in my estimation, someone with this kids intelligence would likely try to slip in any sort of clue he could to tell them it wasn't him.... maybe spelling something wrong that he normally doesn't, etc.. no idea.. just doesn't add up right to me...

[ThePhantom]

It never adds up, because we never get all the details necessary to try to solve the equation...we only get a few of the puzzle pieces; but I guess that's part of the challenge...analyzing and speculating in order to figure it out. It's hard because time is always of the essence, and someone's life can be at stake.

[STEADFAST]

For WS-ers who aren't familiar with San Diego, here's a picture showing how far a person would have to walk on that bridge (with no pedestrian walkway) until they reach the water. The park would be off the picture to the lower right -- you just have to estimate where the angle of the bridge would land.

[slowpoke]

Interesting comments from a commenter on this Yelp page who says he knows him, though he hasn't hung out with him for a couple of years. Read what he says regarding the atm transaction on his comment about halfway down the page--commenter's initials are KP.

'Course we don't know if this is so, but I thought it was interesting to pass on here. Is it ok?

http://www.yelp.com/topic/san-diego-...---erick-wales

[webrocket]

the existence of a note more or less rules out any sort of vendetta. I mean if he owed money from gambling or drug debts someone would just take him out, not leave a note.

[krista]

There must be some secret he was hiding....

Despite the family's protests, I believe there was a suicide note of sorts...perhaps not in that many words, but a note saying he wasn't returning. I think ditching the car there points to suicide...but, you're right, SOMEONE would have passed him on that long walk up the bridge. Moreover, the ATM transaction?? People who kill themselves don't deposit or withdrawl money....what would be the point? The Yelp comments are VERY interesting....and I really feel like he had a secret that he was hiding. Personally...I think he either had a gambling problem or a problem that would put him at odds with his religious beliefs...i/e being gay or something similar. As many others have noted all over the web, this guy has a beautiful girlfriend....he's got a well paying job, he's able to do independent contracting and work from home...he has MANY friends and family that care immensely for him. What was going on that he would be unhappy and no one would know? I've got to believe it was another side of him that none of THESE people saw. While that may be VERY difficult for the family to accept, the one good thing about it is that there is a decent possibility that he's just left THIS life behind....for the life he wants to live (ala Tiffany Tehan). I hate to speculate with someone's life....and I certainly don't want to put a rosey scenario on a serious situation, but I just don't see how Erick goes to the bank if he planned on taking his life. It just doesn't make sense. I also don't see him 'snapping' or being out of his element if he took the time to write out a letter. The one thing that bothers me about 'gambling debts' or owing someone money is that he left his car on the side of the road. It's worth something...so I don't see him ditching it if he needed to pay someone off.
That location may be as much about his friends as anything else. Maybe he realized just how great his friends were...and how they would continue to search for him if they believed he were alive. Thus, parking where it would look like he'd taken his life, so they could grieve and move on relatively quickly...as could he. All IMHO....subject to change. Praying for Erick!!