East Bay Woman's Body Found In Desert

JOSHUA TREE, CA — An East Bay family got the news they had been dreading since last June.

Erika Ashley Lloyd of Walnut Creek vanished while on a trip to Joshua Tree National Park.

Her black Honda sedan was found June 16 — abandoned and vandalized — near Highway 62 in the Twentynine Palms area, by the California Highway Patrol.

Lloyd was believed to be traveling alone to the remote high desert park.

A missing person's report was not filed until June 17.

"Lloyd's vehicle was not associated with the missing person report and was towed for blocking the roadway," the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said at the time.

From June until January, her family did everything they could to find her and held out hope that the 37-year-old mother would be found safe.

One family member described Lloyd as "happy, loving and creative." She owned Bloom Salon in Alamo; at the time of her disappearance, the shop was closed due to the pandemic.

Family and friends of Lloyd launched an extensive effort to find the mother of a young son. Television appearances, massive mailers, and social media outreach continued for months.

Lloyd's car was spotted at Joshua Tree National Park and in Twentynine Palms on June 16, according to family members. "Erika's car, [a] 2006 black Honda Accord, was last seen driving past Lucky Park at 2:45 p.m. heading north on Utah Trail," a "Bring Erika Home" Facebook page reads.

Sadly, the search for Lloyd ended around 9:37 a.m. Jan. 31 when her partial remains were found. A forensic odontologist used dental records to confirm her identity, the sheriff's department said Friday.

"Close to eight months have passed since Erika disappeared and we have been blessed by countless efforts of selflessness and compassion on [the] part of the community and our family," Lloyd's brother, Colin shared Thursday on the Bring Erika Home Facebook page. "Right now is the time for grieving and I encourage everyone to pause and reflect on the beautiful soul we've lost: our Erika."

But the Lloyd case remains a mystery — the cause and manner of death are still undetermined, the sheriff's department said. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact sheriff's Det. Michael Gardea at 909-387-3589.

—Written by Toni McAllister and Bea Karnes