Authorities have offered a $10,000 reward for information that helps locate a woman who has been missing for more than a year.
Monique Figueroa, then 27, was last seen around 4 a.m. May 19, 2015, driving near her residence in the 7200 block of East Avenue U-12 in Littlerock, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Her car, a 2004 black Mercedes-Benz, was recovered 11 days later in an abandoned shed in Juniper Hills.
“There was no sign of Monique, but there were signs of foul play inside the vehicle,” Deputy Lillian Peck said. “When Monique left, she left her 2-year-old daughter in the care of her family.”
Her family reported her missing several days after she left home.
“Since the initial investigation and discovery of the suspicious circumstances surrounding the found vehicle, the case was assigned to Homicide Bureau detectives,” Peck said.
“Investigators recently received a tip that Monique’s remains may be buried off the 11000 block of Pearblossom Highway in Palmdale,” Peck said. “Detectives, cadaver scent dogs and (coroner’s) personnel investigated the tip and checked the area, but the search met with negative results.”
Monique is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with shoulder-length brown hair, and hazel eyes.
The reward was offered by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of any suspect or suspects involved in the disappearance.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call detectives Karen Shonka or Wayne Holston at (323) 890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
