CA DANIELLE STALEY: Missing from Rio Del Mar State Beach, CA - 6 Nov 2025 - Age 35 (1 Viewer)

https://ktla.com/news/california/foul-play-may-be-involved-sheriff-says-of-utah-woman-missing-in-california/

‘Foul play may be involved,’ sheriff says of Utah woman missing in California​

Investigators fear foul play may be involved in the disappearance of a 35-year-old woman from Utah who has been missing for nearly a week after taking a trip to California, officials announced.

Danielle Staley was reportedly last seen with a group of people just before 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 at Rio Del Mar State Beach, about 10 miles east of Santa Cruz, officials with the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office said.

In the department’s updated news release on Nov. 9, officials said, “New information indicates she may be at risk, and foul play may be involved.”

Investigators, according to SFGATE, said the 35-year-old arrived in California’s Central Coast with a friend near the end of October and was staying in a camper van near the beach. Her belongings were later found on the beach, though there was no sign of her.

Though authorities said there’s no indication that she got in the ocean the night she disappeared, sheriff’s investigators have repeatedly flown drones along the coastline looking for any sign of her.

Staley’s family members in Utah have not heard from her since she went missing, a behavior described as uncharacteristic for her.

“At this time, investigators are not ruling out foul play; however, the case is being treated as a missing person at risk due to the circumstances, Sgt. Zach West told SFGATE, adding that people associated with Staley have cooperated with the investigation so far.

Media - DANIELLE STALEY: Missing from Rio Del Mar State Beach, CA - 6 Nov 2025 - Age 35

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Search ongoing for woman visiting California who was last seen at beach bonfire

Danielle Staley was last seen on Rio Del Mar State Beach the night of Nov. 6.

abcnews.go.com

Search ongoing for woman visiting California who was last seen at beach bonfire​

Authorities said they are searching for an at-risk woman who was last seen at a bonfire on a California beach.

Danielle Staley, 35, of Utah, went missing while visiting the California Central Coast with a friend, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.

She was last seen with a group of people at a bonfire on Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos shortly before midnight on Nov. 6, according to the sheriff's office.

She was reported missing the following day, the sheriff's office said.

Investigators have not ruled out foul play, and Staley is considered at-risk due to the circumstances of her disappearance, according to the sheriff's office.

"Staley's personal belongings were found on the beach, and she has not been in contact with her family -- behavior that is uncharacteristic and has raised additional concern," the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "At this time, investigators are not ruling out foul play; however, the case is being treated as a missing person at risk due to the circumstances."

Staley has been visiting the area with a friend, and they had been staying in a camper van near Rio Del Mar State Beach, according to the sheriff's office.

The friend is cooperating with authorities, the sheriff's office said.

Residents and businesses with surveillance video in the areas of Rio Del Mar Beach, Beach Drive, Treasure Island and Spreckels Drive have been asked to contact the sheriff's office so deputies can review the footage.

"Detectives have been diligently working to track down any information and continue to do so," the sheriff's office said.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

https://www.kron4.com/news/california/family-of-woman-who-vanished-from-aptos-beach-speaks-out/

Family of woman who vanished from Aptos beach speaks out​

Danielle Staley and her friend attended a beach bonfire at Rio Del Mar Beach in Aptos on November 6, investigators said. Just before midnight, Staley vanished without a trace.

Her personal belongings were left behind on the beach, and the friend reported her missing the next day, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.

The search for 35-year-old Staley stretched into its second week Friday as sheriff’s deputies continued looking for evidence and witnesses.

On the night of November 6, a group of people built a bonfire on the picturesque beach before Staley and her friend joined the gathering.

“Ms. Staley and her friend were traveling through California while on a road trip. Ms. Staley and her friend met a group of people having a bonfire. Staley was last seen at the bonfire around 11:30 p.m. Ms. Staley was reported missing the next day by her friend after they discovered her personal property on the beach,” Sheriff’s Sgt. Zach West told KRON4.

Earlier this week, the sheriff’s office said foul play might be involved.

Staley and her family are from Utah, KRON4’s sister station ABC4 in Utah reported. She had only been in Santa Cruz County for about a week before she went missing, West said.

Staley’s mother, April Miller, told ABC4 that her daughter had been traveling in a van around California with an on-again, off-again romantic partner since September. She regularly kept in contact with family members over the phone while traveling.

“I probably talked to her at least four times a week and we text other days. She’s not trying to disappear from her family,” Miller said. “If she has gone missing, I feel that she would have done everything in her power to get a call out to one of us to let us know that she was OK.”

Miller said she’s had concerns about her daughter’s on-again, off-again partner for a long time. The family’s concerns intensified after Staley’s disappearance.

“He’s been saying that, basically, she just walked off, not taking her purse, her phone, not taking one thing other than the clothes on her back,” Miller said. “Honestly, we’re really alarmed by this because that’s not Danielle.”

Staley’s mother said investigators searched the van. “They think that foul play is involved. They really think that she just did not walk off,” Miller told ABC4.

Sgt. West told KRON4 on Friday, “Ms. Staley is still missing. Many community members have been calling our office with possible sightings. Deputies and detectives have continued to follow up on all information reported.”

Investigators are asking people who live or work near Beach Drive, Rio Del Mar Boulevard, The Esplanade, or any nearby streets to review their surveillance cameras. The Sheriff’s Office is requesting videos recorded between November 5 and November 7.

 

[Kimster]

So far, my speculations are all over the place. Did they get in an argument and she took off? Did they get in an argument and he harmed her? Did they get in an argument and she decided to take a swim and drowned? Or were the people they met on the beach nefarious?

 

[GrandmaBear]

No idea here either. I do find it notable her family are not fans of his...

 

[Guess Who]

They were at the beach with others. Who saw her leave and with whom? Was bf/friend passed out to not know? Otherwise, how could you just let your s/o walk off in an unfamiliar area with somebody unknown and you do nothing about it?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Search continues for missing Utah woman as boyfriend denies involvement

The boyfriend of a missing Utah woman, last seen in Aptos, speaks out as the search continues, denying involvement in her disappearance.

www.ksbw.com

Search continues for missing Utah woman as boyfriend denies involvement​

The longtime companion of missing Utah woman Danielle Staley has spoken out for the first time since reporting her missing on November 7, denying any involvement in her disappearance and offering to take a polygraph test.

"I'm going to find it. So I won't stop. I'm not stopping until I find her, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here," Nunez said.

Nunez reported the 35-year-old Staley missing the day after she was last seen at a beach bonfire at the Platforms Beach area of Rio Del Mar in Aptos. Nunez, who is asthmatic, said he did not attend the bonfire and fell asleep in the camper van they were traveling in.

"And when I woke up she wasn't there so I'm saying there's cameras there, there's a whole private subdivision that isn't nothing but cameras and there has to be some video surveillance of something cars going in and out between about 11 o'clock and six in the morning," Nunez said.

Nunez has been interviewed extensively by detectives on multiple occasions, and his van is still being searched for evidence. He reiterated his willingness to take a polygraph test, saying, "It's open. If they want me to take one. I offered. I offered to take one. I have no problem with it. It's up to them. Whatever they want to do, they can do it. But I did offer it to them. I said I will take a polygraph test. I would take any kind of tests you guys want."

Nunez decided to speak out due to criticism on social media, where many have brought up the couple's history of domestic violence. He believes Staley may have relapsed into drug use and is with other drug users. Nunez expressed his desire for the focus to shift from him to finding Staley.

"I really appreciate everything people are doing it. You just see her picture. Like that little poster just breaks my heart and I want to do more than just sitting it some hotel room asking for if anybody has any information, any information whatsoever to please come forward," Nunez said.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office has not provided an update on the investigation, but as of last week, they stated that Nunez is cooperating and is not considered a suspect.

 

[Kimster]

So him saying he’s asthmatic so he went to the camper does make sense. Especially if the smoke happened to be pretty heavy. I wonder if the logs were a little wet? That would cause more smoke.

 

[Guess Who]

So him saying he’s asthmatic so he went to the camper does make sense. Especially if the smoke happened to be pretty heavy. I wonder if the logs were a little wet? That would cause more smoke.

I totally get that. There are times when smoke really bothers me, too. Makes total sense to me. The reporting made it seem like he was right there with them. I'm glad he spoke out. Seems easily verifiable by others.

 

[GrandmaBear]

i wonder how cooperative the people having the bonfire have been and what they've said.

 

[Kimster]

i wonder how cooperative the people having the bonfire have been and what they've said.

Me too. I haven't seen any of them make any statements so far.