Body of Erica Alonso found in local creek bed

Erica Alonso’s (left) decomposed body recovered in a remote area off of Ortega Highway. (Courtesy of abc7.com)

The body of a 28-year-old Laguna Hills woman who had been missing since Valentine’s Day was found on Tuesday, April 28, in a dry creek bed in the Cleveland National Forest in San Juan Capistrano, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The woman, Erica Alonso was last seen leaving her boyfriend’s home in Irvine.

Alonso is believed to have driven away from the house early Sunday morning in her white 2014 Honda Civic, which was later found in Aliso Viejo, approximately one mile from Alonso’s residence, according to the police.

The Alonso family offered a $5,000 reward for any information that led to finding her.

On Monday, April 27, the police were notified of the discovery of a decomposing body approximately 12 miles east of Interstate 5 after a group of Cal-Trans biologists came across the body. The coroner’s investigators were not able to determine a manner or cause of death, according to a release. Though the body was preliminarily identified as Alonso, it was not officially identified until Cal-ID records confirmed fingerprints.

An autopsy to determine more information was performed on Wednesday, April 29.

Any with information on the Erica Alonso investigation, please call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Unit at 714-647-7055 or 714-647-7000.

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