Lauren Cho’s Remains Found In San Bernardino Desert

Remains discovered in a San Bernardino County desert earlier this month have been confirmed to be of Lauren Cho. She was reported missing in June.

Authorities confirmed the findings in a news release Thursday. Cho’s body was discovered in a part of the Yuca Valley in “the rugged terrain of the open desert.” Determination of the cause of death is yet to be revealed until the toxicology results are released, the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Division said.

“No further information will be released on this case until such toxicology results are available and new information is discovered as result.”

Cho was reported missing on June 28 while staying with friends in the Yucca Valley, 30 miles from Palm Springs. Cho and her friends were staying in an artist-oriented Airbnb rental.

Her friends said the New Jersey resident was “upset and presumably walked away from the resort, leaving behind her personal belonging.”

Her ex-boyfriend reported her missing about three hours after she disappeared. He told investigators that he “indicated she was suffering from mental distress.”

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Specialized Investigation Division became involved in the case in late September after local investigators “exhausted their investigation.”

Relatives of Cho created a Facebook page called, “Missing Person: Lauren ‘El’Cho” to raise awareness about her disappearance.

The confirmation of Cho comes after the disappearance and death of Gabby Petitio. Petitio’s case drew national attention but also caused a debate on the lack of media focus when it comes to a missing person of color. It has been called “missing white woman syndrome.”