The missing-person case of UC Davis student Linnea Lomax is being handed over from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department to the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, which is where the Lomax family lives -- in Placerville.
The reason, according to Sacramento County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Ramos, is that Lomax's case is not a confirmed abduction. Circumstances suggest she is, "by all accounts, [voluntarily] 'missing' and choosing to stay away from friends and family."
Lomax went missing about a week ago after walking away from an outpatient facility in Sacramento. She had been checked into Sutter Health psychiatric hospital after having a breakdown during finals. .
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office announced the decision in the following release. Share your thoughts below this story.
"As of today, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office has assumed primary investigative responsibility for the missing person case involving 19 year-old Linnea Lomax, who was reported missing in Sacramento County on June 26th. This agreement was made by their office and our Missing Persons Bureau, based primarily on the fact that Miss Lomax is a Placerville / El Dorado County resident. If we were working a confirmed abduction/kidnapping, the circumstances would be different and we would keep the case as an active criminal investigation. However, the circumstances of this case suggest that Linnea Lomax is, by all accounts, voluntary “missing” and choosing to stay away from friends and family.
"We will assist the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office on an as-needed basis, and we will continue to follow-up on any reported sightings of Miss Lomax with a response by patrol personnel. At this point, however, it is our department’s position that we have done the requisite due diligence on this case based on the circumstances present, and have forwarded all of the information that we have to EDSO."
Linnea, please call 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) for confidential help.