UPDATE: Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at 5:56 p.m.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday evening that 23-year-old Dianne Thacher was found safe and alive in her Sierra Nevada College dorm room.
"Thacher allegedly met a male acquaintance when her vehicle received a flat tire," said Sheriff's Office spokesperson Kelly Hoover in a written statement. "Her cell phone battery died shortly afterwards. Thacher reportedly stayed with the male acquaintance for several days. When she left to return home, he saw the media coverage indicating that she was a missing person and contacted the Sheriff’s Office."
UPDATE: Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at 4:39 p.m.
The search for a missing 23-year-old college student is growing, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.
Dianne Thacher was reported missing on Sunday. Her car was found abandoned with a flat tire in Goleta back on October 6.
Investigators are working to get a more detailed analysis of her cell phone records to help pinpoint its last known location. An emergency "ping" placed the phone north of Goleta along the coast.
At this point, the Sheriff's Office says no foul play is suspected, but the case is considered suspicious.
Thacher is believed to have been visiting with friends in the area from her home in Lake Tahoe.
Original Story:
A search is underway for a 23-year-old Sierra Nevada College student who was reported missing on Sunday, after a recent trip to Goleta.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office says Dianne Thacher was reportedly in California to meet up with friends and was staying at a motel on Hollister Avenue. She was last seen checking out on October 6.
That same day, her vehicle was found abandoned on the side of the road with a flat tire, down the street from her motel.
Thacher’s cell phone was traced to an area several miles north of where her vehicle was found.
The Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team is conducting a ground search of the area in tandem with fly-over support.
The Sheriff’s Office is requesting anyone with information that would assist in locating Dianne Thacher to call the Sheriff’s Office at 805-683-2724 or to leave an anonymous tip call 805-681-4171.