Authorities Seek Whereabouts of Elderly Woman Missing for a Week
JURUPA VALLEY – Authorities and family members continue search for 87-year-old woman who has been missing for a week.
Betty Jean Toepfer, an 87-year-old elderly woman was last seen by her family on Wednesday, April 8 at around 6:30 a.m. at her residence. When family members noticed she had not returned home, they became concerned and called the Jurupa Valley Police Department late that evening.
Family members explained to deputies that Toepfer did not drive, but often took the bus. The elderly woman also had no cell phone and there was no way to try to reach her. The woman was reported to be wearing a hearing aid and to only have a slight memory loss. An extensive search following the report did not reveal her whereabouts and there has been no sign of her at the Jurupa Valley Library, located at 8660 44th Street in the city of Jurupa Valley, or the downtown Riverside area where she frequents.
Investigators assigned to the Jurupa Valley Station arrived on scene and assumed the investigation, issuing a Silver Alert through the California Highway Patrol in an attempt to locate her. In a press release, Betty Toepfer is described as a white elderly female who stands 5 foot 3 inches tall and weighs 115 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes, possibly wearing a blazer type jacket or sweater and carrying a black purse.
Surveillance image from April 8 of Toepfer boarding a bus.
This week, authorities were able to procure video surveillance that captured Betty Toepfer exiting the RTA bus at the downtown Riverside terminal on Wednesday, April 8, at 9:45 A.M. According t o Sergeant Vanessa Sloniker, “She was last seen alone, on foot, leaving the bus terminal towards the area of University and Market. In addition to downtown Riverside and the city of Jurpua Valley, it is possible Toepfer may have also taken the bus to the Galleria at Tyler located in the city of Riverside.”
Anyone with information regarding Betty Jean Toepfer’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at (951) 776-1099.
