Garden Grove : Bay Area Man Believed Victim of Foul Play
A San Francisco man last seen Sept. 6 in a Garden Grove bar is considered missing and possibly the victim of foul play, Garden Grove police said Wednesday.
Mark Leeroy Relethford, 34, left San Francisco on Aug. 31 in his Volkswagen camper van en route to the San Diego area, Garden Grove Police Lt. Ken Adair said. Relethford intended to travel on California 1 and camp along the coast in his van, Adair added.
On Sept. 6, Santa Ana police stopped and questioned a man who was pushing Relethford’s van in the 200 block of South Standard Avenue in Santa Ana. The man told officers that he had permission to use Relethford’s vehicle.
“They questioned him but could determine no crime at that time,” Adair said.
However, subsequent investigation by Garden Grove police revealed that the man, whose identity is not known, apparently stole Relethford’s van, Adair said. Neither man has been seen since Sept. 6.
“Family and friends say that Relethford is consistent in keeping in contact with them, but they have not heard from him,” Adair said.
Relethford is described as a white male, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Police are looking for the vehicle, a light, beige 1968 Volkswagen camper van, California license plate number 1GTM 989.
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