Divers, Dogs Used in Search for Missing Woman

Divers and search dogs were scouring the Laguna Lakes area for a New Jersey woman who disappeared Tuesday after leaving her cousin’s home to go for a walk, according to police and family members.

Silvia Molina, 28, was last seen about 4 p.m. Tuesday when she left a relative’s home near Laguna Canyon and El Toro roads with plans to go for hike and then catch a bus to the Laguna Hills Mall, a family member said.

Molina is 5 feet 3 inches, 100 pounds with shoulder-length, wavy, light brown hair. She was last seen wearing stone-washed blue jeans, a khaki top and white tennis shoes. Molina usually wears round-rim glasses.

The search is expected to continue today, Laguna Beach Police Officer Robert August said. On Thursday, a search dog tracked Molina’s scent to the shoreline of one of the Laguna Lakes in the city’s northern edge, a body of water not far from the area where Molina was walking.

“There are no other indications that she is in the lake, and we haven’t ruled anything out at this time,” August said.

There was no evidence of foul play, he added.

The resident of Somerset, N.J., was reported missing by her cousin, Kathy Sebiane, a 31-year-old Laguna Beach resident. Molina has been staying with Sebiane since December, and there were no indications that she would leave unexpectedly, Sebiane said.

Molina’s family has asked that anyone with information about the missing woman call (714) 494-0548, or phone Sebiane’s pager at (714) 707-9628.