Vehicle of Missing Woman Is Found

The vehicle of a former California senator’s daughter who disappeared last week was found Monday night in Signal Hill, authorities said.

There was no obvious trace of Jana Carpenter-Kiklich of Lakewood, however, and no evidence of violence in the vehicle, Sheriff’s Lt. Ray Peavy said.

“There were no bullet holes or any blood that we could see at this point,” Peavy said. “Of course, we haven’t done a thorough investigation yet.”

The vehicle was to be moved to “a controlled area,” Peavy said, where extensive tests for trace evidence will be conducted.

“This, supposedly, is the last vehicle she was seen in,” Peavy said. “But we’ve not located the missing person. That’s our primary concern.”

The white 1996 Nissan Pathfinder was spotted about 7 p.m. by the owner of an apartment complex in the 2400 block of California Avenue, Sheriff’s Deputy Roberta Granek said. It was parked in the complex’s garage, and the owner “recognized it as the vehicle possibly associated with . . . Carpenter-Kiklich,” Granek said.

Homicide detectives and crime lab technicians were sent to the scene.

Bloodhounds were brought in to try to follow the scent of the person who last occupied the vehicle.

Carpenter-Koklich is the daughter of former state Sen. Paul Carpenter (D-Cypress), who now lives in San Antonio. He served time in prison after his conviction in 1993 on 11 counts of obstruction of justice and money laundering.

Carpenter-Koklich’s husband has offered a $100,000 reward for information about the whereabouts of his wife. The couple operate a real estate business.