Post by LadyBlue on May 2, 2006 15:55:38 GMT -5
SAN LORENZO — The search for a developmentally disabled 19-year-old woman who lives at a Fremont group home has intensified during the past 24 hours as investigators grow increasingly concerned for her safety, authorities said Monday.
Stephanie Mathews has been missing since Sunday morning and is considered "extremely at risk" because of her mental condition, said Lt. Bill Gaudinier, a spokesman for the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.
Mathews, a resident of the Emma Lynn Ady Home in Fremont, was with a group of fellow residents hanging out in the parking lot of the Union Jack Pub at East Lewelling and Mission boulevards in San Lorenzo about 1:40 a.m. Sunday, Gaudinier said.
The people with Mathews told investigators that she left in a blue Dodge Charger with four or five African-American men, Gaudinier said. Detectives have learned that the Charger's driver dropped Mathews and one of the occupants off in Hayward later that morning.
Mathews was last seen with that unidentified man in a 2002 Chrysler Sebring, California license plate 4VAJ479. "We're tracking that vehicle down," Gaudinier said.
The counselors who had taken Mathews to the club followed the Charger to Oakland, but Gaudinier said they lost sight of the vehicle.
"We're very concerned about her welfare," Gaudinier said. "Our aim is to get her back safe. We're going 24/7 on it."
Mathews' mother, Lisa, who is in Virginia on business with her husband, Jeff, said in a telephone interview that herdaughter is developmentally disabled and suffers from bipolar disorder, mental retardation, opposition-defiance disorder and compulsive-behavior disorder.
She said her daughter was institutionalized until age 14, after which she began living in group homes, and that her daughter's mental state deteriorates rapidly if she does not take her medication as prescribed.
"The change in her medication can throw her into a different state of mind," Lisa Mathews said. "She doesn't know what she's doing and doesn't understand the consequences. I've not seen her off her medication since she was 5 years old. We're just sick, very sick about this."
Two sheriff's detectives have been working around the clock trying to find the missing woman, who is 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 154 pounds, and has blue eyes and red hair.
An investigator with knowledge of the case said the young woman had gone to the pub with staff members and other residents from the group home as part of a group outing.
A counselor tried to convince Mathews not to get into the car. "She got into the car willingly," Detective Lauren Tucker said. "We're really concerned, obviously, because she is mentally disabled. She usually contacts her parents every day, but they haven't heard from her."
Berna Fields-Thompson, administrator of the board-and-care home in Fremont, said Mathews was among three clients and three caretakers who had spent an evening dancing at the club. The counselors reassured Fields-Thompson that the club caters to people as young as 18, even though alcohol is sold there.
Gaudinier said authorities are looking into whether alcohol was sold to Mathews and are researching the status of the establishment's liquor license.
Fields-Thompson said the group of six was preparing to leave when a man approached Mathews. The two spoke for a moment, but Mathews got into the vehicle carrying her party from the group home.
The man then talked "a rebellious" Mathews into coming with him and three or four other men, telling Mathews' group that the young woman should be free to leave if she wanted to.
"She felt these guys thought she was cute," Fields-Thompson said. "The guy showed interest in her, and she thought he was cute. I don't think she realized their full intention."
Because Mathews is 19, Fields-Thompson said, the counselors who accompanied the young women to the pub could not prevent Mathews from leaving with the men.
"I haven't slept in two days," she said. "I just pray to the good Lord that they haven't done anything to her. I do fear for her life."
Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Tom Madigan at (510) 667-3667 or Detective Lauren Tucker at (510) 667-4907. The department's anonymous tip line is (510) 667-3622.
www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_3775053
Stephanie Mathews has been missing since Sunday morning and is considered "extremely at risk" because of her mental condition, said Lt. Bill Gaudinier, a spokesman for the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.
Mathews, a resident of the Emma Lynn Ady Home in Fremont, was with a group of fellow residents hanging out in the parking lot of the Union Jack Pub at East Lewelling and Mission boulevards in San Lorenzo about 1:40 a.m. Sunday, Gaudinier said.
The people with Mathews told investigators that she left in a blue Dodge Charger with four or five African-American men, Gaudinier said. Detectives have learned that the Charger's driver dropped Mathews and one of the occupants off in Hayward later that morning.
Mathews was last seen with that unidentified man in a 2002 Chrysler Sebring, California license plate 4VAJ479. "We're tracking that vehicle down," Gaudinier said.
The counselors who had taken Mathews to the club followed the Charger to Oakland, but Gaudinier said they lost sight of the vehicle.
"We're very concerned about her welfare," Gaudinier said. "Our aim is to get her back safe. We're going 24/7 on it."
Mathews' mother, Lisa, who is in Virginia on business with her husband, Jeff, said in a telephone interview that herdaughter is developmentally disabled and suffers from bipolar disorder, mental retardation, opposition-defiance disorder and compulsive-behavior disorder.
She said her daughter was institutionalized until age 14, after which she began living in group homes, and that her daughter's mental state deteriorates rapidly if she does not take her medication as prescribed.
"The change in her medication can throw her into a different state of mind," Lisa Mathews said. "She doesn't know what she's doing and doesn't understand the consequences. I've not seen her off her medication since she was 5 years old. We're just sick, very sick about this."
Two sheriff's detectives have been working around the clock trying to find the missing woman, who is 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 154 pounds, and has blue eyes and red hair.
An investigator with knowledge of the case said the young woman had gone to the pub with staff members and other residents from the group home as part of a group outing.
A counselor tried to convince Mathews not to get into the car. "She got into the car willingly," Detective Lauren Tucker said. "We're really concerned, obviously, because she is mentally disabled. She usually contacts her parents every day, but they haven't heard from her."
Berna Fields-Thompson, administrator of the board-and-care home in Fremont, said Mathews was among three clients and three caretakers who had spent an evening dancing at the club. The counselors reassured Fields-Thompson that the club caters to people as young as 18, even though alcohol is sold there.
Gaudinier said authorities are looking into whether alcohol was sold to Mathews and are researching the status of the establishment's liquor license.
Fields-Thompson said the group of six was preparing to leave when a man approached Mathews. The two spoke for a moment, but Mathews got into the vehicle carrying her party from the group home.
The man then talked "a rebellious" Mathews into coming with him and three or four other men, telling Mathews' group that the young woman should be free to leave if she wanted to.
"She felt these guys thought she was cute," Fields-Thompson said. "The guy showed interest in her, and she thought he was cute. I don't think she realized their full intention."
Because Mathews is 19, Fields-Thompson said, the counselors who accompanied the young women to the pub could not prevent Mathews from leaving with the men.
"I haven't slept in two days," she said. "I just pray to the good Lord that they haven't done anything to her. I do fear for her life."
Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Tom Madigan at (510) 667-3667 or Detective Lauren Tucker at (510) 667-4907. The department's anonymous tip line is (510) 667-3622.
www.insidebayarea.com/argus/localnews/ci_3775053