RSS33 Year Old Leanne Hecht Bearden Missing Since 1/17/14 in Garden Ridge, TX … Reportedly Went for a Walk from In-Laws Home (MAP) (Update: Authorities Call off Searches)(Update: Did Leanne Bearden Leave on Her Own?) (Update: Leanne Hecht Bearden Found Deceased, Apparent Suicide)
33 year old Leanne Hecht Bearden has been missing since January 17, 2014 in Garden Ridge, Texas. Leanne’s family says that was last seen when she went to go for a walk on Friday afternoon around 1:00 pm in the Garden Ridge area (map). She said that she would be right back and has never been seen nor heard from again. The Denver, Colorado woman who had traveled the world with her husband was supposed to return home Tuesday; however, instead, she has disappeared in Texas. So how does a woman go missing after going for a walk from her in-laws home, who had just gone on a 56 country excursion with her husband, Josh Bearden, for the past two years?
She is 5-foot-2, weighs about 100 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. She has two piercings on her left ear: one on the bottom and a small loop at the top. She was last seen wearing jeans and hiking shoes.
Friends and family of Leanne Hecht Bearden say that she did not just walk away. According to accounts, Leanne and Josh Bearden were scheduled on Monday to go back to Denver, where they had job interviews lined up. Also according to reports, Leanne Bearden and her husband were the only people in the house around 1 p.m. Friday. Leanne did not take her cellphone or any electronic devices and had $60 in cash at most (VIDEO). She had her wallet with credit cards; however, they have not been used.
Leanne and Josh Bearden were scheduled on Monday to go back to Denver, where they had job interviews lined up, Sculley said. They were renting their house there through an agency and were planning to take it over in May, Sculley said.
Leanne Bearden was having some difficulties adjusting after the worldwide excursion, according to her sister-in-law.
“It was kind of a hard transition for her, so she’s having some anxiety about it, but nothing that seemed like she was just going to run off,” Sculley said.
The Beardens blogged during their trip around the world at www.goexplore365.com. They met at a bar, got engaged after eight months of dating and were married at the Denver Zoo, according to the blog. Leanne Bearden has run nine marathons, was in a band before the trip and can do an Elmo impression, the blog says.
Leanne Bearden and her husband were the only people in the house around 1 p.m. Friday when she said she was going for a walk, Sculley said. Josh Bearden called police four hours later to report his wife had not returned, Sculley said.
Family members said she did not take her cellphone or any electronic devices and had $60 in cash at most. She had her wallet with credit cards but has not used them, according to her husband, who has been checking. Leanne Bearden also had her wedding and engagement rings when she left, family members said.
FACEBOOK: Our Friend Leanne Hecht Bearden.
FACEBOOK – Husband Josh Bearden
FACEBOOK – Leanne Hecht Bearden
UPDATE I: Search for missing Leanne Hecht Bearden turns up no new evidence.
Searchers scoured a 23-square-mile area — far larger than tiny, 6-square-mile Garden Ridge. More than 100 volunteers from Texas Search and Rescue and the Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment joined the massive search, as did roughly four dozen law enforcement officials from Comal County, the Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers and the FBI, among other agencies.
At the conclusion to an “exhaustive search” Saturday for Leanne Hecht Bearden, officials announced they found no evidence a crime had been committed in the area where she was last seen Jan. 17 and would end search efforts.
“We have exhausted the area surrounding our city and we will continue to follow all leads and watch for anything that might lead us to a positive result in finding Mrs. Bearden,” said Garden Ridge Police Chief Donna O’Conner. “The investigation leads us to believe, at this point, we have cleared any leads that might lead us to believe it is a crime committed in the immediate area when she walked off.”
The massive search and rescue effort was launched Saturday morning, as local law enforcement officials enlisted help from agencies across the state to find Bearden, who went for a walk eight days ago and never returned.
UPDATE II: Statement from Leanne’s Family.
As you can imagine, we are disappointed that today’s extensive search of the Garden Ridge area failed to lead to give us any more information as to Leanne’s whereabouts. On the other hand, the fact that she was not found encourages us to believe that she still survives and will eventually be reunited with us. We still do not know what happened to her once she began her walk from the Bearden home in Garden Ridge. We also encourage anyone who might have any information about her location to contact the Garden Ridge police at 210-651-6441 or their local police department. (more)
UPDATE III: Map of the area where Leanne Hecht Bearden went missing from.
UPDATE IV: Police Say Witness Saw Bearden leave the home January 17, they interviewed that man and verified the time she left the home by herself.
There is a quarry nearby as can be seen in the map search above. Maybe divers are needed, if they have not already done so, or side scan sonar.
A man trimming trees across the street reportedly saw Bearden leave the home January 17. Garden Ridge police say they interviewed that man and verified the time she left the home by herself, and that everything appeared fine.
“We just don’t know,” said Leanne’s father-in-law. “We will stick with what we know until we know something differently. And what we know is she walked out of the driveway and walked up the street and that’s all we know.”
Many of the Bearden’s friends have put their own lives on hold to help search. There is a quarry nearby, and several wooded areas.
UPDATE V: Texas authorities call off search for missing woman, husband vows to keep looking.
A person matching the description of 33-year-old Leanne Bearden was seen in the Houston area, according to a Facebook page set up by her friends.
On Wednesday, the Houston Chronicle reported that the Houston Police Department had ruled out the woman thought to be Bearden.
UPDATE VII: Family: ‘Strong possibility’ missing woman left on her own.
After two weeks of fruitless searching for Leanne Hecht Bearden, her family says evidence suggests “a strong possibility” that she disappeared on her own Jan. 17 from the Garden Ridge home of her in-laws.
That conclusion is based on accounts that Bearden, 33, was troubled before leaving the residence and on two reported sightings of her walking along FM 3009 toward Interstate 35 soon afterward.
UPDATE VIII: 33 year old Leanne Hecht Bearden found deceased, apparent suicide.
For more updates, read others opinions and analysis and to provide your own, go to Scared Monkeys Missing Persons Forum: Leanne Hecht Bearden.
If you have seen Leanne Hecht Bearden or have any information about her disappearance, please immediately contact the Comal County Sheriff’s Office at 830-620-3400. Garden Ridge Police Department at 210 651 6441 or e-mail police@ci.garden-ridge.tx.us. You may also contact Comal County Crime Stoppers at 830-620-TIPS(8477) or 800-640-8422. For web or text tips follow instructions at http://comalcrimestoppers.org/
Posted January 26, 2014 by Scared Monkeys Bizarre, Deceased, Found Deceased, Leanne Hecht Bearden, Missing Persons, Search and Rescue, Suicide, World, You Tube - VIDEO | 17 comments |
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17 Responses to “33 Year Old Leanne Hecht Bearden Missing Since 1/17/14 in Garden Ridge, TX … Reportedly Went for a Walk from In-Laws Home (MAP) (Update: Authorities Call off Searches)(Update: Did Leanne Bearden Leave on Her Own?) (Update: Leanne Hecht Bearden Found Deceased, Apparent Suicide)”
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A WITNESS!!
Search continues for woman missing in Comal Co.
Sunday, January 26, 2014, 9:20 am
… “Her husband, Josh, has been cooperative with all investigations and is not a person of interest,” Garden Ridge Police Chief Donna O’Conner said in a statement. “Our heart goes out to the Hecht and Bearden families as they search for their loved one.”
A man trimming trees across the street reportedly saw Bearden leave the home January 17. Garden Ridge police say they interviewed that man and verified the time she left the home by herself, and that everything appeared fine.
“We just don’t know,” said Leanne’s father-in-law. “We will stick with what we know until we know something differently. And what we know is she walked out of the driveway and walked up the street and that’s all we know.” …
http://kxan.com/2014/01/26/search-continues-for-missing-woman-in-comal-co/
________________________________________
SM: Truly a bizarre case.
R
It appears that Josh’s family is speaking out to the media. Does Leanne have family? If she does … to my knowledge up to now they have been silent. Why?
Anyways … is it possible Leanne was having a a more difficult time with the transition than anybody realized and … it all became too overwhelming?
+++++
Family: Missing woman did not walk away
January 20, 2014
… Leanne and Josh Bearden were scheduled on Monday to go back to Denver, where they had job interviews lined up, Sculley said. They were renting their house there through an agency and were planning to take it over in May, Sculley said.
Leanne Bearden was having some difficulties adjusting after the worldwide excursion, according to her sister-in-law.
“It was kind of a hard transition for her, so she’s having some anxiety about it, but nothing that seemed like she was just going to run off,” Sculley said. …
http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?topic=15048.0
Leanne allegedly told her husband that she would be going for a one hour in the Garden Ridge area … however that search area expands 23 square miles. Why?
Search for missing woman turns up no new evidence
January 25, 2014
Updated January 26, 2014
More than 100 volunteers from Texas Search and Rescue and the Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment joined the massive search, as did roughly four dozen law enforcement officials from Comal County, the Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers and the FBI, among other agencies.
They scoured a 23-square-mile area — far larger than tiny, 6-square-mile Garden Ridge.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Search-for-missing-woman-turns-up-no-new-evidence-5174674.php
When the words of the witness are considered … I now suspect that Leanne may have ventured out on a one hour jog and met up with foul play. It is never a good idea to run alone. Could it be that Leanne will be located in the 6 square mile Garden Ridge area?
Garden Ridge is outside loop 1604 on the NE side of San Antonio. This whole area contains several quarries. It is about three miles to I-35.
There is a local pond less than 1/3 of a mile from the Sumac Ln address and a working quarry two miles NE with a pond.
A woman walking or running alone is a prime target for a person or persons that want to do her harm. The fact that she did not take a purse or phone indicates either a well planned get away or something bad happened.
I believe this is a clear-cut case of abduction. No doubt about it. There have been multiple attempts in north San Antonio over the past several months… likely, this attempt was successful.
This is an amazing tale..a couple goes on a world tour. They arrive at the husband’s family residence.
Husband and missing wife are the only two people home at 1pm. Takes husband 4 hours to call police.
Family says “she left with her wedding band and engagement ring on”. How would they know? Reports said “husband and wife were the only ones home”.
Oooh Joooosh??? Alot can happen in 4 hours.
The area looks rugged, and Leanne being fit could well have decided to run on a trail which she fell off of. The searchers may not have found her if she fell into a crevice or the lake as has been pointed out. There was a story about a young woman in a similarly rough terrain area whose car was found abandoned on a mountain road — but absolutely no sign of her. It was months later that her body was found in a gulley which was covered with brush most of the time. When the season changed, and there was less leafy plant life covering the grounds some joggers found her remains. So, while it is always possible there is foul play and that should not be discounted — it’s possible it isn’t.
How sad , my prayers go out in hopes of returning this beautiful woman to her family….
A backpack! Why?
Family exploring all options after woman vanishes in Texas following trip around the world
Published January 27, 2014
Garrett Stethens, a friend of the family and their spokesman, told FoxNews.com that Leanne said to Josh that she would only be gone for an hour, but she never returned. ….
A missing-persons poster on a website created by the familysays she was last seen wearing a dark T-shirt, jeans and hiking boots, and might have been carrying a backpack.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/27/colorado-woman-vanishes-after-returning-home-from-trek-around-world/
Need to know who to call to help in the search and where they are still meeting. I would like to help
________________________________
SM: Here is a link to the missing person’s flyer http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?topic=15048.msg1583420#msg1583420 (klaasend)
I watched a few of their videos and read their blogs. She did not seem like the kind of person who would run off and not care that her family is upset and looking for her. Also, it is a bit odd that the families are not seen together. Why are the families not pulling together and we don’t hear much about her immediate family? When we do, they are visibly upset and Josh is laid back and seems to show little if any emotion. I know we don’t know these people but body language speaks volumes.
[...] 60 miles north of San Antonio to Austin. They are handing out flyers and looking for any answers. Leanne Bearden went for a walk on January 17 while visiting her in-laws in Garden Ridge. She never came [...]
I have a theory. I hope I am wrong and LB is found safe and her husband is not involved in any way. If law enf. rulled out that LB was abducted or ran away, then what else is there? I do not think she ran away. I do not think she even went for a walk that day. Something just isn’t right with the story. Sometime after LB is reported missing,JB gives information that his back pack,that had protein bars in it, was not there. He said he noticed it was missing too. It’s indicated that LB must have taken that backpack with her when she went for her walk as well as taken her own backpack. Two backpacks? Doesn’t sound right.
JB states he was surprised to find the backpack gone.
Isn’t it possible that LB never left that home to go for a walk the day JB reported her missing? Is it possible that both JB and LB took their backpacks with the protein bars to go on a walk/hike possibly a day or more before the parents were to return home? Could there have been an accident or foul play, an altercaton, that caused LB to be hurt and possibly her demise? Maybe LB had that backpack when something happened and JB can not retrieve it from where she is. Then JB needs a story that takes suspicion away from him as a suspect to make it look like he wasn’t with her. So, he reports that his wife went for a walk and never comes home.
When the search didn not find LB, then JB has to take action because his wife was not found and he knows if she is found his backpack will be with her and he will be the prime suspect for what happened.
JB had to devise a story about his backpack missing. It would implicate him in his wife’s disappearance if she was found harmed and in a bad way, demised, with “his” backpack and her backpack. Law Enf. or anyone would think that JB must have been with her, why would she carry 2 backpacks on a walk or hike? If the parents were at home a day or two before going away then this is probably not a likely scenario. But,if the parents were away several days before their return, and LB and JB were alone, it is probable. Again, just a theory but presents a good one.
If LB was found demised with both backpacks you have your suspect, her husband, cuz one of the backpacks is his. But, JB reports his backpack is missing and LB must have taken it. He wants Law Enf. to think she took both with her on her walk that day by stating he is surprised his is gone. Again, I hope LB is found safe and well soon and all this can be disregarded as a theory to her disappearance.
It doesn’t say anywhere that she took her backpack too. But I do agree that something like that had to have happened…minus the extra back pack.
[...] year old Leanne Bearden has been missing since January 17, 2014 when she was last seen when she went to go for a walk on Friday afternoon around 1:00 pm in the [...]
You are right, I had my backpack info wrong. I read somewhere that she took her pack and then the other was reported missing. Still something doens’t seem right since they found her. But who knows. The public will never be told the entire story. Sincere Condolences to the family.