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Fresno woman missing for nearly two weeks after Costco trip

3 mins read
Samantha Tomlinson, 37, of Fresno, Calif., has been missing since running an errand at Costco on Dec. 3, 2021. Tomlinson Family/Handout

A woman from Fresno went missing for about two weeks after going to Costco to run some errand, SFGATE reported.

Samantha Tomlinson’s disappearance prompted her concerned family to approach the media to find her.

Tomlinson, 37, told her roommate on Dec. 3 that she will be heading to Costco located at 7100 North Abby St., Fresno to return something she purchased.

She stopped by first to sell a weight set to a person she knew through OfferUp, an application that connects two people for sales, the Fresno police spokesperson said. Their meeting was recorded on CCTV, the police said, but no suspicious activity happened. Then, around midday, Tomlinson drove to Costco.

Costco’s surveillance camera captured her as he arrived and left the store’s parking lot using her 2002 silver Honda Civic. There is also no apparent incident transpired on her store trip.

But Tomlinson did not return home the following day. Her roommate reported her disappearance to the police.

In an interview with NBC’s “Dateline”, police said that Tomlinson’s personal credit cards, bank account and phone were untouched since Dec. 3.

“We’re hoping for the best,” said Fresno Police Department Lt. Jon Papaleo in NBC’s interview. “Somebody out there could have seen her, or her car, in the past week or so. And that could be the missing puzzle piece we need.”

Tomlinson, a K-9 handler from the Fresno County Department of Agriculture, was once featured by ABC’s “Localish” program last year.

Her love for the outdoors and animals were shared by her mother, Christie Tomlinson, to “Dateline”. Christie added that it is unusual for Samantha to not return home as she takes care of her pet dog.

U.S. Forest Service rangers were alerted to her disappearance as Tomlinson is highly familiar with outdoor activities. Agencies were told to monitor some of her favorite hiking locations like the Sierra National Forest and the Sequoia National Park.

Samantha Tomlinson, 37, of Fresno, Calif., has been missing since running an errand at Costco on Dec. 3, 2021. Tomlinson Family/Handout

“She tends to go up when things are bothering her. She likes her space,” Tomlinson’s father, Robert, said in an interview with FOX26. “She likes the mountains, but she usually takes her dog with her. She loves the outdoors and she loves animals. That’s where we think she might be. But indications are that maybe she’s not.”

Tomlinson has black hair and blue eyes. She is 5-foot-5 and 130 pounds, with some tattoos on her body. One of her tattoos on her right forearm says “Be Free” while a black paw print and purple flowers were inked on her left elbow.

Her Honda Civic, with license plate 6YQB398, was not yet located.

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