Update No. 3 on Page 2 is about the woman found in Angeles National Forest being in good health and on her way back to OC. Update Nos. 1-2 were about the air and ground searches this morning that led to her discovery.
ORIGINAL POST, AUG. 30, 7 A.M.: Placentia police are hoping the public can help them find a 24-year-old woman who has been missing for more than a week.
Shameca Lewis Johnson was last seen the afternoon of Aug. 20, when she left her home in the 1500 block of Sierra Bonita, according to Placentia Police Detective Corinne Loomis.
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Johnson's roommate thought when she left their home that afternoon she was walking to work, but it turned out she wasn't scheduled to work that day, Loomis reportedly told City News Service.
A Cal State Long Beach graduate with a theater degree, Johnson has no car or bank account, but she did have some cash with her, according to Loomis, who also noted the woman's cell phone was turned off or inactive.
It is uncharacteristic of Johnson to be out of contact with her family, the detective noted.
Johnson is about 5-feet-3, 105 pounds with red hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black tank top, khaki pants, plastic multi-colored bracelets, a chain-mail bracelet, and a silver thumb ring.
She left her home with a tan leather wallet on a chain and a dark-colored Camelback backpack.
Anyone with more information is asked to call Detective Jason Reger at 714.993.8187.
Her friends have set up a Facebook page to share information.
The missing person flier follows the MAJOR UPDATE on the next page…
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UPDATE NO. 1, AUG. 30, 10:58 A.M.: Sheriff's search and rescue teams are using aircraft, ground units and K-9s to search Angeles National Forest today after a television news report indicated visitors may have seen Shameca Johnson there.
Fox11 News reported today about the encounter on Thursday with a woman who seemed to match Johnson's description and seemed confused and appeared to be wandering in the forest.
The possible witness statements spurred the sheriff's department search, authorities said.
UPDATE NO. 2, AUG. 30, 11:52 A.M.: ABC7 reporters Shameca Johnson, who was last seen on Aug. 20 leaving her home in Placentia, has been FOUND in the Angeles National Forest.
Check back for an update on her condition.
UPDATE NO. 3, AUG. 30, 12:26 P.M.: Shameca Lewis Johnson “has been found,” confirmed Placentia Police Detective Corinne Loomis just before noon (to City News Service).
“She is in good health,” Loomis reportedly said, adding that it was her understanding from search-and-rescue teams that found the 24-year-old that “she is on her way back to Orange County.”
The only question remaining is how the woman nicknamed “Meca” managed to survive since Aug. 20. That's the day she went missing and a cab driver recalled giving her a ride to Angeles National Forest, according to Loomis.
The detective explained that the cabbie called Fullerton police late Thursday or early today saying he saw media reports about Johnson and recalled giving her the ride. Coupled with the sightings forest visitors reported to investigators, that helped search-and-rescue teams narrow their search, Loomis reportedly said.
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