Fallbrook CA— On November 3, 2021, eighty-three-year-old Elena Roy was reported missing by her husband. According to her husband, Elena walked away from their residence in the 900 block of Woodcreek Drive in Fallbrook. Elena suffers from dementia and has been known to walk away from her residence before. In 2020, Elena was found on De Luz Road in Fallbrook after wandering away from her home.

On November 13, 2021, the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit accepted Elena’s missing person case. The reassignment of missing persons cases to the Homicide Unit does not denote suspicion of homicide and administratively occurs on all missing persons cases where the person is outstanding. Detectives at the Fallbrook Substation thoroughly investigated the case and utilized multiple resources to attempt to determine Elena’s whereabouts.
Homicide detectives re-contacted Elena’s husband and her family. Homicide detectives met with the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) who had conducted a large-scale search in Fallbrook for Elena shortly after she was reported missing. The area of the Santa Margarita riverbed was identified as an additional search area.
On November 27, 2021, about sixty volunteers with SAR conducted an exhaustive all-day search of the riverbed area. The specially trained SAR volunteers searched the expansive area on foot as well as utilizing off-road vehicles, canines, and drones. The Sheriff’s Dive Team also responded to search a shallow pond and a river in the area. Despite their efforts, Elena was not located and her whereabouts are still unknown.
Elena is a white female standing 5′ 4″ tall, weighs about 115 pounds, has brownish gray hair and brown eyes. She is believed to be wearing a tan beanie, a multicolored gray and white short sleeved shirt, black pants and blue and brown shoes. She had a brown purse and was wearing brown and tan framed glasses.
Elena frequently goes by the first name of Helen and may use the prior last names of Lorrea, Swart or Barrio.
The Sheriff’s Homicide Unit is asking residents of Fallbrook to assist in the on-going search by checking their private property.