The mother of a missing Utah woman, Danielle Staley, who vanished in California earlier this month, says her boyfriend of 13 years has been abusive.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, 35-year-old Staley was last seen near at a bonfire in Aptos, near Rio Del Mar State Beach, on November 7 at around 11:30 p.m.
Santa Cruz County deputies said Staley may be at risk and foul play is potentially involved.
Earlier this week, according to KSBW Action News 8, Staley’s longtime boyfriend, Alx Nunez, 62, said he had nothing to do with her disappearance, adding that he’s helping search for her.
Her family told KTLA 5 that Nunez, who accompanied her to the bonfire, is “extremely abusive” and “manipulative.”
The pair had been staying on the coast, living in a camper, after arriving in the area at the end of October. Police later found her belongings on the beach, and there has been no indication she went into the water.
“We’ve been concerned for years,” her mother, April Miller, said, adding that the pair had been dating on and off for around 13 years.
Meanwhile, Nunez reportedly said he would take a polygraph test, and fears Staley may have had a drug relapse.
“There’s cameras there, there’s a whole private subdivision there that is nothing but cameras, and there has to be some video surveillance of something, cars going in and out at that particular time between about 11 o’clock and about six in the morning,” he told KSBW.
Police have not named Nunez a suspect in Staley’s disappearance, and he is cooperating with the investigation, ABC 7 reports.
Police are asking for security footage taken from Beach Drive, Rio Del Mar Boulevard, or the Esplanade between November 5 and 7.
Staley is described as a white female who stands 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and weighs 120 pounds, with blond hair. She was last seen wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and leopard-print leggings.
Anyone with information regarding Staley’s whereabouts is urged to Santa Cruz County police at 831-471-1121.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to help with search expenses.
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[Feature Photo: Santa Cruz County police]
