Orange County

'We won’t forget’: Orange County officials push for help locating people missing for months, years

Officials with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office are teaming up with the family members of missing persons to help highlight their cases after leads have gone cold.

Investigators wrapped up a press conference Thursday morning bringing attention to multiple cases over the years.

Some of the missing persons highlighted were:

  • Desira Tima, 67 -- Last seen in October 2019
  • Tamara Elbertson, 24 -- Last seen in July 2011
  • Cullen Leith, 57 -- Last seen in April 2016
  • Ryan Gaddy, 32 -- Last seen August 2019
  • Latonya Roberts -- Last seen in December 1994
  • Joel Fernandez -- Last seen in November 2012

“Behind every picture of a missing person are real families who want answers (and) who miss their love ones every single day,” said Sheriff John Mina.

Sheriff Mina said that over 1,700 missing persons cases are investigated every year in Orange County, but that most of those are resolved quickly after the subject is either located by a family member or by a deputy.

“We’re here to tell them we won’t forget, and we never give up and we will continue searching for their loved ones,” Mina said.

If you know the whereabouts are circumstances that led to the disappearance of any missing persons, you are urged to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.

Christopher Boyce, WFTV.com

Christopher Boyce joined WFTV in January of 2019.

Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in 2006.