[aesop_image imgwidth=”300px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Screen-Shot-2016-11-18-at-12.21.17-PM.png” credit=”Photos courtesy LBPD” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”Diana Rojas, 27, was last seen Friday, Oct. 20, 2000 and was reported missing when her family could not find her or her truck. LBPD detectives now believe she was murdered, and an excavation is underway in Ridgecrest, Calif. in an attempt to locate her remains. ” captionposition=”right” revealfx=”off”]
The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) announced on Nov. 16 that an excavation in connection with a missing-person case initiated more than 16 years ago is underway this week after an anonymous tip revealed new information.
LBPD detectives now have enough information to conclude that Diana Rojas, 27, was murdered and her remains are in Ridgecrest, Calif. An attempt to locate her remains was conducted Nov. 17 with the assistance of radars and specially-trained dogs, according to the LBPD.
Rojas was last seen Friday, Oct. 20, 2000. She lived in an apartment in the 5500 block of Ackerfield Avenue, and she missed a scheduled appointment the following day.
Her family reported her missing when they were unable to locate Rojas or her black 1992 Nissan pick-up truck that Sunday.
Rojas’ daughter was in care of a family member at another residence at the time of her disappearance.
Homicide detectives responded to the scene to investigate, but the information was inconclusive, and the case went cold, according to the LBPD.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”300px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Screen-Shot-2016-11-18-at-1.11.39-PM.png” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionposition=”center” revealfx=”off”]
The victim’s vehicle has never been located.
At the time of her disappearance, Rojas worked at a church and helped young single mothers.
The investigation is ongoing. Those with information regarding Rojas or her vehicle may call Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Mark Bigel and Todd Johnson at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to a smart phone or visiting LACrimeStoppers.org.
Source: LBPD
