In October, She Vanished While Walking To A Friend’s House Just Hours After Getting A New Cell Phone, Which Was Later Found Thrown On The Side Of The Road
Rio Boyd of Spanaway, Washington, was a 21-year-old known to be an outgoing and caring friend.
“I’ve known Rio since we were about 6 years old. She was one of my best friends from grade school to high school, and then she moved away to Washington. But we still kept in touch,” said Laura Orlando, Rio’s childhood friend.
“Rio was very funny and always wanted to make you laugh. She was also a very protective friend and would never let anyone mess with you.”
But, on October 17, 2022, the 21-year-old mysteriously vanished.
Earlier that day, Rio had just gotten a brand-new iPhone. Then, about four hours later, at 6:00 p.m., she left her home on Field Road to walk to a friend’s home– only bringing her new cell and leaving her wallet and keys behind.
After Rio was last seen walking southbound on Highway 7, though, she never arrived at her friend’s house.
Once the 21-year-old did not arrive home later that evening, her father, Brian Boyd, began calling his daughter’s new phone. And to his surprise, a man answered his calls.
“A guy picks the phone up, answers the phone, and he’s like, ‘Hello?’ I said, ‘Who’s this?'” Brian recalled.
“He said he just found the phone on the ground right here, so I ran over and got it. I don’t understand how she would have left her phone behind like that. So that’s what kind of scares everybody.”
Facebook – pictured above is Rio
According to Rio’s uncle, Chad Boyd, the realization that Rio did not return home was “unsettling.” He claimed that the 21-year-old always alerted her parents whenever she was going to be gone for a certain amount of time.
Rio’s cell phone was ultimately found near Mountain Highway and Field Road, just one block away from her home in Spanaway. The device was reportedly behind a concrete road barrier and had minor scratches– as if it had been thrown or dropped.
Nothing on the phone indicated Rio’s whereabouts, though, and her father, Brian, called the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the device “disturbing.”
The Pierce County Police Department has been investigating the case ever since, urging all residents of the area to check their surveillance cameras for clues.
Rio’s friend, Laura, detailed how nothing appeared wrong in the days leading up to the 21-year-old’s disappearance. She and Rio reportedly always kept in touch, and the last time they spoke was over Snapchat.
“The last conversation we had was her sending me a picture from when we were little kids on a field trip, and we talked about some old memories. Nothing seemed off to me,” Laura said.
Due to this, she admitted to thinking that foul play was involved in Rio’s disappearance.
“It seems to me that she was abducted by someone and is possibly being trafficked because there is absolutely no trace of her. Abductions and trafficking are very common in the area she went missing.”
And despite some people speculating that the 21-year-old left by her own will, Laura claimed she really does not believe that.
“She would never not tell at least someone about her whereabouts, and she wouldn’t leave her phone. Her wallet with her ID was left at home as well, and she left her dog, too. These are things she just wouldn’t do,” Laura explained.
According to Laura, investigators have been “quiet” about their efforts. She also revealed how Rio was not caught on any CCTV footage that was reviewed by authorities, and there is now a private investigator working on the case as well.
In the meantime, Rio’s loved ones have coordinated various search efforts and handed out flyers.
“People have even been door-knocking in the area she went missing to hand out flyers. The community is working very hard to help spread the word about Rio, and it is amazing to see people who didn’t even know her care and help,” Laura said.
Rio’s father, Brian, has also continued holding onto hope even though his daughter has now been missing for three and a half months.
“I love her so much, and I miss her very much. I want her to come home. Her dog would really love to see her. I can definitely see he misses his mommy, but I miss her more,” he said.
At the time of her disappearance, Rio was five foot six, weighed about 215 pounds, and had blue/hazel eyes and brown shoulder-length hair. She also has a scar on her left forearm and a small mole above her lip.
If you have any information regarding Rio’s disappearance or whereabouts, you are urged to contact the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department at (253) 287-4455.
Investigators are also interested in surveillance footage containing Rio Boyd captured between 4:00 p.m. on October 17, 2022, and 4:00 p.m. on October 19, 2022, from businesses or residents located near 198th Ave Ct E and Field Road. If you have any footage, you can upload it at the link here.
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