ESCONDIDO: The family of a woman who has been missing for nearly a month is pleading to the public for information on her whereabouts.
Martha Lopez Perez, 43, was last seen Dec. 13 inside the AMVETS Thrift Store, 2085 E. Valley Parkway, where she shops at least once a week.
Her longtime boyfriend said he dropped her off at the store about 10:30 a.m. She made her purchases about 2:50 p.m. and was last seen leaving the business on store cameras, police said.
When she didn't return home by morning, her family called police.
Authorities are investigating the disappearance as suspicious. Anyone with information may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
“She was a good person. She never had problems with anyone,” her boyfriend, Anselmo Hernandez, 32, said yesterday. Perez has two children, ages 10 and 14.
Police are also searching for leads at local swap meets, where she often sells her thrift store finds, said Escondido police Lt. Bob Benton.
Lopez is described as Latina, 5 feet tall and 150 pounds with black, curly, shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a burgundy sweater and jeans. She speaks only Spanish.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS or Escondido police at (760) 839-4722. –K.D. CRIME
Capsized boat
may be smugglers'
DEL MAR:Authorities believe a capsized boat discovered off the coast of Del Mar early yesterday was used to smuggle illegal immigrants into the country.
The first report came about 5 a.m. when a resident saw a boat running ashore on Dog Beach, said sheriff's Sgt. Amy Brown. He told sheriff's deputies that he heard a man's voice yelling, “Run, run,” but didn't see anyone.
Nearly two hours later, another person called about a 12-foot capsized boat near 25th Street. No one was in the area, and the boat had no markings or serial numbers. Six life vests were found washed ashore south of Dog Beach.
More than a dozen smuggling boats have been found along the San Diego County coastline over the past several months. –K.D.
