Southern California authorities looking for Lauren Cho, a missing New Jersey woman, reported Sunday that they found human remains close to her last known location in the high desert.
Cho, 30, is known to family and friends as Lauren "El". However, no connection has been made. According to sheriff's officials, it could take several weeks for the San Bernardino County coroner to identify the remains.
It released a statement saying that the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department had conducted an additional search-and-rescue operation as part of Lauren Cho's ongoing search. "Unidentified human remains were found in Yucca Valley's rugged terrain during the search."
This location is roughly the same as Cho's last sighting. It also includes a property that was searched in July.
Cho was last seen just after 5 p.m. on June 28th. She may have fled a short-term rental that she used during travels with friends, sheriff's officers said.
A week later, Cho's family created a Facebook page called Missing Person: Lauren "El" Cho to raise awareness of her disappearance. Cho's case and other cases of women of color, Korean American, seemed to be getting more attention, despite criticisms of the media's focus on Gabby Petito's death and disappearance in the summer.
Petito's remains were discovered near Grand Teton National Park. Those found in the search to find Cho were located near Joshua Tree National Park.
One of Cho's friends tweeted September 20: "I want the attention now and just to power through," after Petito's case became a major national story.
Authorities conducted an aerial search of Cho's short-term rental area about a month following her disappearance. Deputies also searched the property Cho was staying at a few days later.
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The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department placed its specialized investigation division on the case September 21.
The Facebook page was created by Cho's family members.
El is many things. He's a musician, a baker extraordinaire, a loyal friend, a funny gift giver and probably the coolest sister anyone could wish for. El shines as an aunt. Her love for her nibling is unmatched. Family members agree that El's nibling is the most important person in the world.
