She Vanished After Leaving For Work In 2022, And Her Car Was Later Found Abandoned And Parked Off A Highway
Born on June 22, 1997, Arelie Garcia grew up in Salinas, California, with her six siblings. She was also especially close with her two older sisters, who eventually got married and moved out in adulthood.
So, the three sisters always kept in touch via text and frequently spent time together – either going shopping or seeing movies.
By the time Arelie was 25-years-old in 2022, she was still living in an apartment with her mom, which was located on Roosevelt Street in Salinas. She was also working as a service advisor at a Chevrolet car dealership.
But, after Arelie headed out for work as usual on the morning of September 22, 2022, she mysteriously disappeared, and her family has been searching for answers ever since.
That day, she left her apartment at about 6:30 a.m., and her car – a bright red-wrapped Honda Accord – was captured on surveillance footage. Not long afterward, she also sent her sister a text detailing how she was going to work.
Yet, Arelie never actually arrived at her job, and no one has seen or heard from her since.
Arelie’s manager eventually called her family to tell them that she never showed up for her shift, which was supposed to start at 7:00 a.m. At that point, they contacted the Salinas Police Department and filed a missing person report.
Then, that same evening, Arelie’s two sisters used the Find My iPhone feature in an attempt to locate the 25-year-old. They found that Arelie’s phone had last pinged in a region of Big Sur, which is about an hour away from Salinas.
This enabled Arelie’s car to be located. It was discovered locked and parked on the side of Highway 1, close to the Little Sur River. Inside, her wallet and cell phone were found. The vehicle’s keys had also been left in the ignition, and investigators found no indicators of foul play.
areliegarcia.com – pictured above is Arelie
Authorities with the Salinas Police Department then partnered with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office to help with the initial search for Arelie. Search parties, as well as drones and helicopters, were used to comb through the surrounding area.
Unfortunately, no evidence was ever found, and there has been little progress in solving Arelie’s disappearance.
“We have exhausted every lead we had. Nothing new has come up,” said Salinas Police Commander Brian Johnson.
In the beginning, Arelie’s loved ones were frustrated by how authorities were handling the case. After all, it was Arelie’s own sisters who tracked down her last whereabouts using a cell phone app.
“We were very unhappy in the beginning. It felt like we didn’t have any answers,” recalled Arelie’s sister, Veronica Garcia.
“We weren’t sure if cameras were looked at; if steps were being done. The vehicle was found by her sisters; everything they came across, the family found themselves,” added Veronica’s husband, David Torres.
This caused the family to turn to the media, offering more interviews and trying to raise awareness about Arelie’s case.
Salinas Police Detective Edwin Cruz has since taken over the investigation, and Arelie’s loved ones were happy about this.
“He’s been helping us way more – we’re very grateful for him,” Veronica said.
Still, Arelie’s family hasn’t stopped trying to gather more information regarding her disappearance.
Her loved ones have organized rallies and marches, they’ve started a GoFundMe page to raise money for a cash reward, and they even launched a website to share information about Arelie’s case and how community members can help.
There, her family also talked about Arelie’s generous and hardworking character, as well as her love of eating healthy, working out, and her obsession with Starbucks drinks.
“Another obsession of hers is the color pink! If it’s not pink or rose gold, she won’t buy it. She loves to dress up wherever she goes, always looking her best. She loves going out with her friends and having a good time,” the website reads.
“She frequently would go to the beach, wine tastings, concerts, and shopping at Target for fun. She has a great sense of humor, always making everyone laugh. It doesn’t matter what type of day you’re having; if Arelie is around, you know you’re going to have fun. She’s such a selfless person, always putting everyone’s needs before hers.”
Veronica is also still holding onto hope that she will one day see her sister again.
“I feel in my heart that she’s still alive. I just hope God gives her the strength she needs to come back home,” she said.
Arelie is five foot six and has dark brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black leggings and a black hoodie.
There is currently a $10,000 reward being offered for any information that leads to Arelie’s discovery. If you have any information regarding her case, you are urged to contact the Salinas Police Department at (831) 758-7321.
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