The Humboldt Five: “So Many Missing From Such a Small Area”
Today, hoping to get answers for the families of five Humboldt women that disappeared under suspicious circumstances, missing person activists launched a social media campaign. The campaign includes a Facebook page for the five missing women, share-able graphics (see image above,) a hashtag (#HumboldtMissingFive) and an interactive map (see photo below) of where the women disappeared. So-Cal Advocates For The Missing and their partners urge community members to share these images and this story in hopes that clues to the whereabouts of the women might emerge.
Heather Miller, a family advocate for NorCal Alliance for the Missing, designed the map. She said she was asked by a colleague to create it and was surprised by how much she learned in the process. “I was already familiar with the cases from research I had done on …Humboldt and the surrounding counties….I think [this] gives a new perspective, by combining their information and photos with a map showing you the locations that they are missing from.”
“As I was making it,” she said, “I feel it gave me a bigger picture…[The women] are more than just a name and photo on a missing person flyer. These are real people, who are missing from real places….Someone loves them and is searching for them.”
Who Are the Missing Women:
A spokesperson for the Humboldt Missing Five page said she found it curious that “so many were missing from such a small area.” She had recently formed a successful campaign around five men who had vanished in the Bay Area and has hopes that grouping the women together will help the community think about the disappearances in new ways–ways which might lead to uncovering what happened to them.
Christine Walters: A week before she vanished on November 14th, 2008, a naked, scratched and bleeding Christine asked for help at a home on Tompkins Hill Road. She said she was being followed. After being taken to the hospital, Christine made plans to return to her Wisconsin family. She never made it.She was last seen at a copy store in Eureka. A recent post about her on Facebook was shared over 7000 times. Consequently there has been a renewed excitement about the case. A spokesperson for So-Cal Advocates for the Missing said several people have called in with possible sightings this last week in the Eureka area.
Last seen: Nov 14, 2008
Where: Eureka, CA
Description when last seen: White female, 5’1″, a little over 100 pounds. Red hair, green eyes. A tattoo on her neck and another on her hip.
Sheila Franks- Sheila Franks and Danielle Bertolini disappeared within a week of each other. Family members claim they were both last seen with the same man. Learn more about Sheila here.
Last seen: 2 Feb 2014
Where: Rio Dell
Description when last seen: White female, 37 years old, 5’5” tall and approximately 120 lbs., strawberry blond hair, blue eyes.
Danielle Bertolini– The disappearance of Danielle Bertolini and Sheila Franks has received extensive coverage locally and nationally. The two women knew each other. Family members are convinced their cases are connected. See more information on Danielle here.
Last seen: February 9, 2014
Where: Swain’s Flat
Description when last seen: White female, 23 years old, 5’2″, 105 pounds, blond hair, blue eyes.
Karen Mitchell- Karen’s case received national attention this month when her disappearance was linked to millionaire and multiple murder suspect Robert Durst. Durst lived in Trinidad at the time.
Last seen: November 25, 1997
Where: Karen was last seen on Broadway in Eureka
Description when last seen: White female,16 years old, 5’5″, 130 pounds, sandy hair, blue/green eyes.
Jennifer “Jade” Wilmer: Technically, Jade was living in Trinity County when she disappeared but she was last seen hitchhiking to Willow Creek and had previously lived in Eureka.
After her daughter’s disappearance, Jade’s mother, Susan, helped push through Jennifer’s Law which required states “to report information concerning unidentified bodies into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. This procedure provides easier cross-referencing of missing persons and unidentified victims in the US.” (Information from here.)
Last seen: September 13, 1993
Where: hitchhiking between Hawkins Bar and Willow Creek.
Description when last seen: Brown hair, blue eyes. 5’2″ 100 pounds. Dreads. Left eyebrow has faint scar.
More on the Missing:
Heather Miller says that there are several missing men in the area, too. One, Jeff Joseph, disappeared last June. There is a $10,000 reward in his case. Miller urges people to share the information about the women and Joseph. “He is deeply missed and his family is actively searching everyday,” she said. “For families like these support from the local communities is so important! I believe that when people come together and help one another, amazing things can happen!”
If you have any information on any of these missing person cases, please contact Humboldt Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251. Or report information anonymously on the Sheriff’s Tipline 707-268-
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
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Kym,
Is there a way to share this post? My aunty was head of the missing persons department for SF PD and is recently retired….I would like to see if she has any advice/insight.
Victoria, Copy the url https://kymkemp.com/2015/04/01/the-humboldt-five-so-many-missing-from-such-a-small-area/ and paste it into an email to her or on Facebook and tag her.
Kym I have a question how do we get louie taylor added to the mizzing five can u help
Heather, this post is about recently missing women. BUT, I am planning on a story about missing people in the area that will include more long term disappeared like Louie. He isn’t forgotten. I promise. However, to make sure that Louie gets attention from the missing pages contact the links above. They have places to leave messages. They are very nice and helpful.
My sister has been missing since 1991 her name Andrea “Chick” White
Penny, if someone would like to talk to me about her, I could do a story.
Not sure why, but it sure seems that Kim you know there is a reason why our school and childhood friend Andrea “chick” White needs more attention regardless of time, as children born in a small town we all are aware of the fear of who you can trust, can we trust you to reach out to Penny and see her face to face and add Andrea to the list of five and make it six or do something of a story and start a list of minority missing persons have no fear our community will stand by you. Andrea and the whole community needs your help ,if you just research and create your own story, as your real compassion is being a reporter is to write of all race, we trust in you. thank you
My problem is that as basically one person running a news site, I don’t have a lot of research time. In addition, I live in SoHum so that’s hours from any information. I can’t research her case online because there is no information.
I need someone willing to help me. My email is [email protected] should anyone be willing to help.
Charlene Rosser disappeared from Eureka in April of ‘98, found murdered in 2003 in a different county, and finally identified through DNA around 5 years ago. It should have been The Missing 6. Her daughter was left with no answers and it seems to me that the Sheriff’s Department has done nothing to find out what happened to her. They did very little to search for her when she went missing! I hope you add her to your list of the people that have disappeared from Humboldt County.
https://kymkemp.com/2015/04/01/the-humboldt-five-so-many-missing-from-such-a-small-area/
copy the link i posted and paste it
What about sumi juan missing from hoopa? This is the third article that has focused on missing persons of Humboldt county but not one has mentioned her. I really hope it isn’t because she is native American?
I just found about her from another reader. Here’s what I found. http://www.tworiverstribune.com/2010/11/search-continues-for-hoopa-resident-missing-since-september/ I’ve contacted the person who runs the Humboldt Five page, too.
Thank you Kim! I think this a great idea to try and find out what has happened to these girls and men. But, I know several Missing Native Women from Humboldt that aren’t listed just as Sumi. It would be nice if they were included.
Dang! That is not good! I’m thinking about writing a post on the two readers pointed out to me. If you have information on more, please let me know.
I’m reposting all the links on my Facebook page. I live in Willow Creek
Any news about Hanah from Petrolia?
I know this is an old post, but could you send me the names of the missing Native American women from Humbolt Co. ? I’m working on getting them entered into Namus.
Also chick white from hoopa ca
Nicole, we just found out about her today. Do you have any suggestions on where we can get more information?
Thanks I was just gonna say that. Andrea “Chick”White, my younger sister has been missing since July 31, 1991 she has four beautiful children and now has to grandbabies.
Penny Cordova. Email me and I can provide you with info on her. My email is [email protected]
My cell Number is 530.623.7016
Humboldt County Sherriffs detective has all the information
Holding my head….
My niece, Charlene Rosser, was missing since 1998. Her remains were found in 2012 around the Turlock area, however, she went missing from Eureka.
I wonder how many more there are that aren’t mentioned on here.
Charlene isn’t technically missing but I believe foul play is suspected and no one has been charged. Here’s some more information. http://www.redwoodtimes.com/general-news/20120605/remains-of-missing-eureka-woman-finally-identified
I have heard they heard they have found remains of one of the missing five.. Please don’t dismiss, the find of this woman’s remains, and still consider the other girl missing…
She is still listed as a missing person , why is that , do you know .
Thank you Kym!
I so hope someone remembers something.
First off so good to see your still working locally as reporter!! Thanks so much for this new article. We just simply CAN NOT let these people be forgotten and swept under the rug as way to much stuff in Humboldt usually is. Sadly the saying “if you want to murder someone and get away with it,do it in Humboldt”,just keeps proving to be true
The work the activists are doing to get out the word helps tremendously. Then every time someone shares the information, there is a chance that the right person will see it and remember something helpful.
Hello,
I am Shawn Dickerson`s mom ~ He is one of the California 5 .. I `m glad to see and think its a good idea to group these you women together. There`s power in numbers and prayer .
God bless your heart
Trish
Trisha, I’m so sorry for what you are going through. Here is more information on the California 5 for those who haven’t heard. https://www.facebook.com/CALIFORNIAMISSINGFIVE?__mref=message_bubble
thank you for sharing ..
Eric Day isn’t mentioned!! Hes been missing since 96-97 please add him to it!
A map of all the missing would be useful.
I was thinking about making one of those Kym. I will start working on it and I will send you a copy! Send me any info you think would help since they are not all entered into NamUs! I dont want to leave anyone out!
Thank you, Heather. This map you made provides a good way to look at the problem. It does seem as if it would be helpful to do another one with the most obvious suspicious missing shown.
Heather , it would be great if we just keep adding the missing women to the map we have , what do you think ?
Missing on 530 or 530 missing out facebook has some people from numerous counties listed including Humboldt, Trinity, Shasta and Butte among others.
Any leads on Eric Day?
I don’t know much about Eric Day. Do you know a family member that could contact me at [email protected] ?
Kathy Day is his mom. She is on FB.
I don’t know if you’re going to see this, so long after it was originally posted, but I may have found Eric Day, alive, but in jail. There’s a picture of him here, so if you see this, and this is not him, please let me know. I’m not seeing *any* reports of Eric Day being missing anywhere except from your comments. So there might not be a missing persons report filed for him, and he’s definitely not in Namus.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/courts/man-in-armed-standoff-sentenced-to-years-in-prison/article_b6b375a7-223c-5d6a-9e94-7ea7521b6ca9.html
This is not him. I have a photo of my son I can post, but think I sent one already?
I’m happy to see that people take this sort of time. But, as it has been over 20 years now since the disappearance of my mother (Hannah Jane Rowell missing since 1993) I wonder what my family has done wrong. It is a cold case with no new evidence and no recognition.
Tabetha, I’d never heard of her. I goggled her and now I’m going to share her information with the folks that run the missing persons’ pages.
Any news about Hanah from Petrolia?
She is still officially missing. There was a body found in the area and efforts are underway to determine with dna if the body could be her.
You are doing a good thing. Keep looking. Talk, talk, talk to the people who knew the missing women and men. Someone always knows something.
Call me over paranoid, but I noticed a pattern in all the missing females you shared; they are all white, 5’5 to 5’1, 100-120 lbs, and light brown to blonde in hair color. This is either the creepiest Redwood Curtain coincidence, or there might be a serial killer in Humboldt.
I noticed the same thing, and sadly I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I had a friend who was going to school for criminology focused on profiling serial killers. What she told me she learned from her professor was there is a staggering number of these killers out there. The problem though is they can’t tell the public for fear of more murders due to the publicity, as well as copycats, and mass public fear. It’s very scary to think. My thoughts and prayers are with all who are affected by the disappearance of they’re loved ones.
I noticed the same thing right away. Robert Durst may have been living in Trinidad, but there are planes that go both ways back and forth from Trinidad. I sure am hopeful that the police prove he wasn’t only just living in Trinidad, but can prove he was in Trinidad the day these woman went missing. If you look at pictures of Robert Durst’s wife who is also “missing”, they all look so similar in all characteristics.
Christine Walters, Karen Mitchell, and Jennifer Wilmer similarities are so close; Height, weight, complexion and hair color.
Christine Walters is a Wisconsinite and I pray for her family always. Christine Walters also shares both of my daughters middle name Christine and Lindsey.
I’ve noticed the same thing
That would be ANOTHER serial killer…there have been several in the 45 years I have been here. It is devastating how much damage all of us suffer at the hands of a few.
Kym,
Another female is missing and should be added to this group. Her name is Sumi Juan and she was from Hoopa CA. I can’t give you the dates that she went missing but that would be easy to find for whomever is tracking these girls.
I can give you the following information. She was someone who mattered a great deal to many people including me. She was sweet, kind, thoughtful and smart. She also trusted people. She has three daughters who would love to know what happened to their mother. She was young when she went missing, around 30 years old.
Most of the folks who know her believe that she was murdered. I remember talking with her daughter who was about 5 years old a few days after she was missing. When I asked when she had last seen her mother, she said, “She is gone now Pamlyn. She had on white pants, a pink sweatshirt and white tennis shoes. Can you find her for me?” She then handed me a post it note that says “Charlene Love Pamlyn” that I have hanging in my kitchen and will cherish forever. It wasn’t that she “loved me” it was that she loved that I cared that her mother was missing and that I would try to look for her.
I got a search party together that included folks from the Valley and the Coast. We walked and walked that river. I told everyone the clothing description that Charlene had given me so they could be on the lookout for pink and white clothing. Lynne Soderberg, the Chief at HSU PD turned to me and said, ” We are looking for bones Pamlyn” I think that was when I got that Sumi might not be coming home to her three girls.
We didn’t find her and there have been stories about who did what to her. She is missing to this day. I was hopeful last week when they found bones up in the Valley that it would be Sumi so we could have closure for her kids and some sort of remembrance for Sumi Jaun. She mattered to many of us and she should be one of the missing. Make that six Kym. Thank you- Pamlyn
Pamlyn, that is such a heartfelt remembrance. Thank you.
Yesterday someone pointed out Sumi to me and I have passed her information to the missing persons’ advocates. The story you told of her little girl really brings home to me how important finding our missing women (and men) is.
Pamlyn , We have a Facebook page set up where we started with the five and we are adding the other women we find that are missing in Humboldt County . We added her information yesterday on the page . This is so incredible for all of us to hear your story . Please like the page and send us photos of her .
facebook.com/HUMBOLDTMISSINGWOMEN
Thank you Kym. I probably have photo’s of her somewhere if they are needed.
Wow. It is stories like yours, Pamlyn, that will keep the light shining on these missing girls/women and men.
Thank you for all you’ve done Kym. We pray that people will come forward that have some knowledge of where our missing loved ones are – and what happened to them! Think about the hearts that are breaking and need closure on this part of their loved one’s life. Put yourself in their position for a minute and do the right thing.
Great work Kym, but it might be needful to alter the campaign to cover more ground and less gender. #humboldtdisappeared
I hope these women et the justce they deserve
It sounds like it might be someone everyone trusted possibly a cop and that could be why no one is looking. I’m just saying, who’s the person in charge in that county. Wouldn’t you be looking for these people if you where in charge of everyone’s saftey. I know i would. It Looks a little Suspicious to me.
It sounds like it might be someone everyone trusted possibly a cop and that could be why no one is looking. I’m just saying, who’s the person in charge in that county. Wouldn’t you be looking for these people if you where in charge of everyone’s saftey. I know i would. It Looks a little Suspicious to me. Possibly chp
every one should check into the missing and found women and men in Shasta county
There are two beautiful young women from Hoopa who should be on that list.
Sumi Juan and Chick White……Please add there information. Both of their cases are listed as suspicious and they too are from Humboldt County.
Mendocino Co. Sheriff’s web page has a section just for missing people. They list 11 men and 5 women as missing. One goes back to 1976, the most recent missing one year ago this month. http://www.mendocinosheriff.com/missing/index.html
I am wondering why Humboldt Co. Sheriff doesn’t offer this information. Why do Humboldt Co. and Shasta Co. families have to create web pages for their missing? Trinity Co. Sheriff’s web page list one person missing.
My brother Louie Taylor should be put on here he was murdered in 08 in Xenia can..and no one will do anything
Kym,
Thank you for including my sister and not allowing this very real problem, of missing persons, to be ignored. Good bless you!
Stephen, of course. If you think of any detail that you wish would have been included let me know. A missing persons group is working on a map of the missing in Humboldt. I can ask them to include more information.
[…] The Humboldt Five: “So Many Missing From Such a Small Area” […]
Sumi Juan is still missing. Missing since September. I hope the organizers and your readers see this and add her. Thanks!
http://www.tworiverstribune.com/2012/04/search-for-sumi/
Charlene Rosser went missing on Mother’s Day in 1998. Her body was found a few years later in some brush on the side of the road near Truckee.
Her disappearance and murder has never been solved. She went missing from Eureka.
Kym,
My 27yr old daughter Jessalyn Dean has been missing since the end of September 2015. She was last known to be in the Humboldt County area.
I would like to know how I can get her added to this list as well as help with finding her. Please contact me.
Toni
I sent you an email, Toni.
Please read my post and contact me –
714-274-3017
[email protected]
I’m creating a podcast surrounding these issues hoping to bring national attention to these missing persons-
I would love to speak with you
Kindest,
L
Have you made progress on the list of missing persons?
Danielle Bertolini was identified when a skull was found on the banks of the Van Duzen around the Grizzly Creek area in the past year or two.
http://www.willitsnews.com/general-news/20090608/retired-deputy-keeps-looking-for-humboldts-missing
Old article, but may be of some interest to you
This sounds a lot like the Ohio missing women….
What ever happened with that skeleton found next to the Eel River on Halloween? Down by Piercy. Any identification on that yet?
No more information that I know of but I promise an update as we get closer to the date.
Omg, I’m reading all the missing in Humboldt and the surrounding area; Where is the FBI? This list goes on and on and why isn’t their more news coverage. This is why I watch Crime watch daily, they just don’t report high profile cases. They give a voice for the low proflie cases all over.
Rick carrington is responsible for the death of louie taylor but since he is a informant they do nothing
I know this post was from 2015 but i live in Siskiyou county and you stuff gets shared alot when things happen around HWY 96, a lot of people use you page for news! and well I have been watching Crime watch daily here and there and well on their webpage Humboldt Missing five is on the top of the solve this crime tab.. I watching the 2 videos and read the article and well in the video this (your) article is on it ( I noticed the redhead blackbelt )and i thought it was cool and you would like to know or see it so here is the link
https://crimewatchdaily.com/2016/10/04/humboldt-mysteries-are-5-missing-women-in-a-california-county-connected/
Thank you for showing me. I appreciate that!
I think it is terrible that there are all these murdered and missing people being ignored and not Police or FBI is doing anything to find out their case profiles and look into their disappearances etc, i think it is shame for there families.Somebody needs to do something to investigate how and why these poor people went missing and give their families some closure.There is a serial killer running about killing people out there and until he is caught he is going to keep doing it. Somebody has got to put a stop to this NOW.
This is not him. I have a photo of my son I can post, but think I sent one already?
Hello all,
My name is Layla I studied psych and journalism in my undergrad years. I recently had a best friend move to Eureka back in 2017 – I was appalled to learn about all of the missing people men AND women! I’m going to be devoting my time to creating a podcast specifically about the missing people who have vanished it seems almost into thin air – as I’m doing my research regarding this the list of missing people never seems to end. When I visited my friend up north I remember seeing countless photos and pictures regarding the missing individuals
I really need as much help as I can shedding light on these individuals and their cases.
Please reach out to me
[email protected]
Im putting my podcast together as Im writing this I need as much information as I can -when I’m able too I’m going to try to go up north and speak with sheriffs department help me help you bring awareness to this issue!!
Kindest,
L
4-5 women with a similar description have gone missing in southern Oregon, around Grants Pass Valley. Could be related to these missing cases near Eureka since it is nearby?
Copy and paste the whole link to see the missing persons reports.
https://www.oregon.gov/osp/missing/pages/missingpersons.aspx?wp1936=f:{o:0,a:{o:0,a:{c:65637,o:{t:0,v:%22F%22}},b:{c:4809,o:{t:0,v:%22Josephine%22}}},b:{c:57765,o:{t:0,v:%22BLOND%22}}}