With no updates on the four missing people, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) is still asking for the public’s assistance.
The Town Crier contacted RCSD media information bureau Friday morning for any updates on the cases of missing people Roy Prifogle, Melissa Lane, Dia Abrams and Rosario Garcia.
RCSD Correctional Sergeant Deanna Pecoraro responded Monday morning writing, “As for any updated information on our missing persons, we do not have any at this time. As we continue to move forward, we are searching and looking for anyone who may have information in regards to their whereabouts.”
While RCSD is asking for the public’s help in locating all of these missing people, new information has not been released that could potentially help the public search.
PHOTO BY HALIE WILSON
“We understand the concerns that the public has and truly value their want to locate these people,” Pecoraro wrote. “We also hope they understand as in any incident or investigation, not all information is releasable and or available for the public.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF KENDRA JOHNSON
While the media information bureau has not released or confirmed any information, Captain Leonard Purvis, of the Hemet Station, has been helpful in responding to questions.
On Sept.10, a RCSD SUV was spotted hauling an off-road vehicle near Highway 243 and Saunders Meadow Road.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
Pecoraro said they may have been in the area for training and or some type of search. They didn’t have any specifics and no incidents were reported during that timeframe.
According to Purvis, “They were conducting follow-up searches for Melissa Lane.”
While it was unclear exactly where on the mountain deputies were searching for Lane, Purvis also confirmed that the search didn’t provide any further information or evidence of where Lane is located.
Melissa Lane, 41, was last seen June 15, according to a poster on display in the Mountain Center area. The Town Crier spoke to Kathy Lamont, Lane’s mother, “She was an avid hiker, but didn’t have a destination. She was last seen in Pine Cove. I don’t know if she’s dead or alive.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF LYDIA ‘DIA’ ABRAMS
Rosario Garcia was last seen July 7 wearing a brown shirt and blue jeans at the 26000 block of Katherine Street in Hemet. Garcia is a 73-year-old Hispanic female and it is possible she suffers from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. She is 5’ 3” tall and 120 pounds.
Palm Desert deputies from the RCSD were dispatched to the area of 70000 East Highway 74 in Pinyon Pines at 11:46 a.m. on July 9 after Garcia’s vehicle was found unoccupied. Garcia was not located after a search of the area was conducted.
Earlier in the year, local Roy Prifogle was reported missing after going on a hike in the Pine Cove area Wednesday, March 4. He left home at about 1 p.m. and was last seen at the Pine Cove Market at 6:30 p.m. on the same day. He was last seen wearing a red backpack and jeans.
RCSD Deputy Jeremy Parsons said, “After six full days of searching in between inclement weather, searching 8 to 10 hours per day, Prifogle has not been located. The Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit (RMRU), as well as search and rescue volunteers from San Bernardino County, Orange County and San Diego County, were assisting. In total, about 150 people have been searching during those six days.” Also adding, “On the second or third day of the search, we found his back-pack, but have found no other clues as to his whereabouts.”
On Sunday, June 7 at approximately 8:24 a.m., Hemet Station Deputies were dispatched to the 58000 block of Bonita Vista in reference to a missing person. Lydia “Dia” Abrams was placed into the system as a missing person.
Abrams is 65 years old, 5’ 5” tall, 130 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black and turquoise jack, yellow shirt and blue jeans.
According to RMRU, their team of volunteers was dispatched to Abrams’ 160-acre ranch in the Apple Canyon area (between Mountain Center and Garner Valley) on June 9. They conducted a search from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with no success of finding Abrams.
RMRU went out again on June 10 to search more difficult areas on the property including a creek bed and the hills overlooking her ranch. All assignments were completed by 6 p.m. At that point, detectives took over the investigation and called off the physical ground search.
If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Roy Prifogle, Dia Abrams, Rosario Garcia or Melissa Lane, contact the RCSD immediately at 800-950-2444.
