October 10, 2021
YUCCA VALLEY, California—Human remains have been discovered in the desert of Yucca Valley amid the search for a New Jersey woman who was reported missing in the area this summer, reports ABC7.
30-year-old Lauren “El” Cho was last seen on June 28 walking away from a home on Benmar Trail where she had been staying with her former partner. The couple took a cross-country trip to California to chase her dreams of becoming a chef.
Authorities say Cho’s then-ex-boyfriend told them she walked away from the compound at around 5 p.m., leaving behind personal belongings after “suffering from mental distress.”
Extensive searches by air and ground were conducted with no sightings, according to ABC7.
This weekend, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department crews found human remains in an area described as “rugged terrain of the open desert of Yucca Valley.”
According to ABC7, there is no indication the body found is Cho. The identification process could take several weeks, given the state of the body.
Lauren Cho is described as 5’3” tall, weighing around 110lbs, with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a yellow T-shirt and jean shorts.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department’s dispatch center at (760) 956-5001 or Detective Ables at (760) 366-4175.
Feature Image via ABC7