Josephine Vargas, 34, of Santa Ana was last seen October 23, 2013 after leaving her sister’s birthday party and saying she would walk to a nearby store. Family members initially believed she was with her husband and he thought she was with family, which delayed the missing persons report until October 27. Josephine left three children and her family said it was out of character for her to abandon them.

Her disappearance is linked by investigators to other women who went missing from the same area of Santa Ana, a neighborhood with noted drug and prostitution activity. Investigators later connected her case to Kianna Jackson, Martha Anaya and Jarrae Estepp; Estepp’s body was found at a recycling plant in Anaheim. In 2014, registered sex offenders Franc Cano and Steven Dean Gordon were arrested and charged in the abductions and murders of those women. Gordon later admitted guilt at trial and said the victims’ bodies were discarded in dumpsters; he was sentenced to death. Cano had not been tried as of the events described.

Foul play is strongly suspected in Josephine’s disappearance given the circumstances and the links to the other victims. Anyone who knew Josephine, saw her on October 23, 2013, or has information relevant to her case is asked to come forward.