A young Southern Californian woman named Erica Alonso met a horrible end when she vanished on Valentine’s Day.
Her disappearance and eventual death are cloaked in mystery, leaving a path of suspicion, unanswered questions, and speculation in their wake.
Erica Alonso, then 27 years old, vanished in 2015 following an evening with her ex-boyfriend. Her family’s harrowing experience inspired them to start a never-ending search for the truth and justice.
The whole country came together to support them in their quest for solutions. Even with all the attention, people concerned are still baffled by the mystery surrounding Erica’s tragic death.
Let us take a closer look at the circumstances and incidents that led up to Erica Alonso’s passing.
In order to celebrate Valentine’s Day in 2015, Erica Alonso spent the evening with her ex-boyfriend Larry.
However, according to Larry’s memory, they got into an argument, which led Erica to leave his house alone at 3:45 in the morning in her white 2014 Honda Civic.
Erica ran into another couple that evening at the Sutra Lounge in Costa Mesa; they subsequently went back to Larry’s apartment.
At the time of the investigation, however, there was no reason to suspect anything because their answers coincided with Larry’s version of what happened.
Her family became worried when Erica Alonso did not come home, so they started looking for her.
No significant leads materialized despite the family’s $5000 reward offer for any pertinent information or sightings of Erica at the nightclub.
When Erica’s abandoned car with all of her personal stuff inside was found about a mile from her home, the investigation into what happened became more urgent.
Erica’s family continued to call for police to look into the case throughout this time, stating their concerns about her ex-boyfriend’s possible involvement.
Despite being a subject of interest, there was no solid proof that connected him to Erica’s disappearance.
Erica Alonso’s body was found near the Ortega Highway in Cleveland National Forest some months later, in a chilling discovery. Her lifeless corpse, wrapped in plastic bags and duct tape, added to the confusion and created additional concerns.
— OC Sheriff, CA (@OCSheriff) June 14, 2023
Since her cause of death was judged to be an accidental overdose, suspicions of foul play were stoked by the secluded spot where her body was discovered, miles from both her home and automobile.
@OCSheriff I am asking that you please take the time to reconsider all the evidence in the murder of Erica Alonso. Her killer is still free, and it’s clear that one individual is responsible. The disposal of her body was intentional, and justice must be served.
— Lordan Jopez (@LordanJopez) June 20, 2023
According to the autopsy report, Erica Alonso had a fatal concoction of alcohol and GHB in her body. GHB, commonly referred to as the “date r*pe drug,” has sedative and euphoric properties and is occasionally used for recreational purposes.
Despite the fact that her blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit in California, the coroner’s authorities determined that she overdosed accidentally.
@OCSheriff I am asking that you please take the time to reconsider all the evidence in the murder of Erica Alonso. Her killer is still free, and it’s clear that one individual is responsible. The disposal of her body was intentional, and justice must be served. https://t.co/RhE3cyTq40
— ili 🐛 (@slipkn8tt) June 20, 2023
This decision, however, did not placate Erica’s relatives, who continue to believe that there is more to the story.
Regarding the circumstances of her disappearance and the body’s disposal miles from her home and automobile, they raised a number of concerns.
Erica Alonso’s disappearance and passing drew attention across the country, and her family actively sought public sympathy by holding candlelight vigils and disseminating information on social media.
The public’s demand for justice and answers persisted despite the authorities’ determination that Erica’s death was not homicidal, prompting a more thorough investigation into her passing.