New info on Lydia ‘Dia’ Abrams

Lydia “Dia” Abrams went missing June 6 from her Bonita Vista ranch in Apple Canyon (between Mountain Center and Garner Valley). The ranch, that is over 100 acres, was searched multiple times by Riverside County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) and the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit (RMRU) soon after Abrams was reported missing, but they returned empty-handed. RMRU is a volunteer rescue group overseen by RCSD. The group is trained in search and rescue throughout Riverside County.

David Gotfredson, an investigative producer for Channel 8 news in San Diego, has been following Abrams’ case since the beginning.

On Jan. 11, Gotfredson wrote in an updated story that Abrams’ self-proclaimed fiancé Keith Harper filed a lawsuit, claiming to have power of attorney over Abrams’ estate.

The civil complaint was filed “in San Juan County, New Mexico on Dec. 9.” Gotfredson writes, “It seeks $3,020 in damages – including court costs and interest – stemming from a $2,000 purchase of boots, made by Lydia “Dia” Abrams before she went missing.”

According to Gotfredson, Abrams was a frequent customer of Boot Junky out of Scottsdale, Arizona. But her most recent purchase before she went missing, with which Harper is suing for, was not picked up by Abrams and Harper had no involvement with the purchase.

“The Riverside Sheriff’s Department is investigating Abrams’ disappearance as a missing persons case, and investigators suspect foul play, according to search warrants obtained in September by News 8,” Gotfredson wrote.

“Harper has not been named a suspect by law enforcement and he did not respond to a News 8 message seeking comment for this report. Previously, Harper has denied any involvement in Abrams’ disappearance.”

A hearing will be held Feb. 15 where Harper will represent himself in the case.

The Idyllwild Town Crier reached out to the RCSD on Saturday morning asking for new information or updates on the five missing people from the Idyllwild and surrounding areas.

Roy Prifogle, Melissa Lane, Abrams, Rosario Garcia, and Diana Perez have all gone missing in the last 10 months. As of print time, no response had been received from RCSD’s media information bureau regarding requests for any updates.

In recent weeks, the Town Crier has spoken with the friends and family of all the missing people about their feelings, concerns and experiences. The only person the newspaper has not been able to get more information about is Abrams.

Eight people have gone missing in the area since March of this year and five remain missing.

The newspaper has been asking for updates weekly since early summer.

On Sept. 10, a RCSD SUV was spotted hauling an off-road vehicle near Highway 243 and Saunders Meadow Road.

According to Hemet Sheriff Station Capt. Leonard 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 may have gone missing.

Lane, 41, was last seen June 15, according to a poster that was displayed in the Mountain Center area. The Town Crier spoke to Kathy Lamont, Lane’s mother, right after she was reported missing.

“She was an avid hiker but didn’t have a destination,” Lamont said. “She was last seen in Pine Cove. I don’t know if she’s dead or alive.”

Outside of the search for Lane, the community has not received any updates on the other missing people. Friends, family and the community have been left in the dark.

Garcia was last seen July 7 wearing a brown shirt and blue jeans in Hemet. Garcia is a 73-year-old Hispanic female and suffers from 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. 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, 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 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 backpack, 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. 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 jacket, yellow shirt and blue jeans.

RMRU went out again 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.

Christy Rojas, Gonzalez’s sister, and her family are struggling with her sister missing.

Rojas said, “We’ve been terribly sad. We think about her every day and have dreams of her, waiting for any sign or a miracle because we miss her and love her a lot. But the most important, her baby needs her. We can see the sadness in her eyes. Although she can’t speak, we know she misses her mom.”

If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Roy Prifogle, Dia Abrams, Rosario Garcia, Diana Perez Gonzalez or Melissa Lane, contact the RCSD at 800-950-2444.