WA GIOVANNA "GIA" FUDA: Missing from Maple Valley, WA - 24 July 2020 - Age 18 Found Alive

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed · Jul 28, 2020

GrandmaBear · Jul 28, 2020

I pray she is found safely. Very little info here to even hazard a guess...

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed · Jul 28, 2020

Seems likely that she either called someone to pick her up, or someone came across her and offered her a ride.
Cell phone coverage can be very spotty in that area. Did she try to walk out of the area or to find cell coverage and become lost?
I don't know *exactly* where her car was found. It's about 15 miles from Skykomish to Stevens Pass. But in general, this is an EXTREMELY densely wooded area.

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed · Jul 28, 2020

'It's a nightmare: Missing Maple Valley teen's disappearance called suspicious

The search for this missing Maple Valley teenager has turned urgent after investigators have determined her disappearance is suspicious. Gia Fuda, 18, has been missing since early Friday when she left her Maple Valley home in her silver 2008 Toyota Corolla. King County Sheriff Deputies said her...

foxsanantonio.com

'It's a nightmare:' Missing Maple Valley teen's disappearance called suspicious

The search for this missing Maple Valley teenager has turned urgent after investigators have determined her disappearance is suspicious.

King County Sheriff Deputies said her car was found on Saturday on Highway 2 East between Skykomish and Stevens Pass.

Deputies said it was out of gas, and her purse was still in the car. Her phone was last pinged to the location where her car was found, but it's now gone and turned off.

She was nowhere to be found.

"It’s a nightmare," said Gia's mother, Kristina Fuda. "It’s really hard to deal with. You want to be positive but it'so hard."

Gia’s family said she just graduated from Tahoma High School. She was active in her church youth group, positive and had a lot of friends, so this disappearance is very unsettling.

“We just want her back,” said Gia’s father Bob Fuda. “She’ never not come home. So, when she didn’t come home, immediately we called the police. It’s just not right and obviously it wasn’t.”

Gia’s brother, Dominic was the last person to see her leave their house.

He figured Gia was going hiking or getting coffee with friends as usual, but nothing suspicious.

Deputies said since Gia’s car was facing eastbound, she might be headed to Eastern Washington.

Investigators with search dogs have been out at the scene looking for the 18-year-old and will continue until she is found.

“We need everyone to just help us find her, because this is not her behavior,” said Kristin Fuda.

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed · Jul 28, 2020

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heavy.com

Gia Fuda Missing: Teen Vanishes After Car Runs Out of Gas

The King County Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet on July 26 that Fuda’s car was last seen west of Stevens Pass on U.S. Highway 2. Anybody with any information on Fuda’s whereabouts is asked to call the King County office on 206-296-3311. The sheriff’s office updated their tweet on July 27 to say that investigators were now treating Fuda’s disappearance as “suspicious.” The message said that Fuda’s purse was in her car. Her cell phone was not located but it is not powered on. Another message from the sheriff’s office said that Fuda “could be in eastern Washington. It’s unknown who picked her up.” King County Search and Rescue is involved in her search for Fuda.
Fuda Was Last Seen at Home by Her Brother Who Thought She Was Going Hiking or Getting Coffee

KOMO News reports that Fuda was last seen at her home by her brother, Dominic, in Maple Valley, Washington, on July 24. Dominic Fuda told the station that he thought his sister was going hiking or getting coffee when she left.

Detectives Are Worried That Fuda Was ‘Picked Up by the Wrong Person’

King County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Detectives told Q13 Fox that they are worried Fuda was “picked up by the wrong person” after her car ran out of gas.

In a Facebook post, Kristin Fuda said that Fuda has “connections with Motion church, City hall church & Real Life church.” The post said that Fuda “loves frequenting coffeeshop, hiking and visiting The Bellevue Park.” The post also says that Fuda “may be traveling to California.” Fuda’s aunt wrote in a Facebook post, “My niece is on my mind 24/7. Feeling helpless, sad * worried. Praying for your safe return Gia.”

This is not the first tragedy to befall the Fuda family. In April 2004, Fuda’s older sister, Kali, was tragically killed after she was hit by an Amtrak train in Seattle. Kali Fuda was 18 years old. The Everett Herald reported at the time that Kali Fuda was struck while crossing railroad tracks by a passenger train that was traveling around 35 miles per hour. The Herald article notes that Kali Fuda would fix the hair of her younger sister, Gia. Fuda’s sister was referred to as being enthusiastic about hair and make-up. Fuda formerly maintained a beauty YouTube channel.

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed · Jul 28, 2020

Search for missing Maple Valley teen to resume Thursday

Gia Fuda's car was found along Highway 2 near Stevens Pass on July 25. She was last seen the day before.

www.king5.com

'It doesn’t feel real:' Missing Maple Valley teen's car found near Stevens Pass

Giovanna (Gia) Fuda, 18, was last seen Friday morning when she left her Maple Valley home without telling her parents where she was headed.

Her car was found the next day along Highway 2 near Stevens Pass.

Gia graduated from Tahoma High School in June and her parents say she was taking online college courses this summer and was excited to go to college in the fall. She is a volleyball player, attends three churches and loves youth group.

“She’s very social, she loved to just get up and go, you know,” said her mother, Kristin Fuda.

“She’s very independent,” said Gia's father, Bob Fuda.

When Gia didn’t come home Friday night, they knew something wasn’t right.

“It’s like it’s not even happening. It doesn’t feel real. I mean literally, how could this happen to our daughter?” Kristin Fuda said,

Gia would often get up and go for a hike or get coffee with friends but would always tell her family where she was headed.

“After midnight she didn’t come home, we knew something was wrong because she is normally home by then or she calls us or texts us,” Kristin Fuda said.

On Friday morning, Gia’s brother saw her walk out the door carrying several bags, as if she were going somewhere to stay, according to her mother.

“She had packed, you know, so that’s just odd. He asked her where she was going, and she didn’t say anything,” Kristin Fuda said.

“We don’t have any idea where she was going. We don’t know why she as up there,” Bob Fuda said.

Search and rescue continue to search the area near where her car was found using K9s. The sheriff’s office is considering her disappearance suspicious.

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed · Jul 28, 2020

They mentioned her purse was found in the car. They did not specify whether any bags were left in the car. If the "several bags" were left in the car, that would change things immensely.

GrandmaBear · Jul 29, 2020

Well taking several bags hints at a plan, did not answer her brother now when asked so if correct, that lends to did not want to share where she was going. I agree, were the bags in the car or not?

So she possibly has a plan but plans poorly as she runs out of gas and has no working cell phone? Phone is missing but purse in car...

Doesn't add up... They are not sharing everything clearly. Where was she at any time while gone? Last seen? Was she driving? Alone? Did she have a bf? She went to three churches and loved youth events, was there one? That weekend? Where? What did she use for money? A debit card? Was it in her purse? Cash? Where did she last gas up? Receipts? Receipts in purse/car? Did she have a job?
I hope she did not meet with foul play or meet up with the wrong person. I hope and pray she is safe.

However, hearing she seemed to have "packed" and not responding to her brother seems to show she planned on being gone for a bit at least, to begin with anyhow...
Jmo.

GrandmaBear · Jul 29, 2020

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed said:
Seems likely that she either called someone to pick her up, or someone came across her and offered her a ride.
Cell phone coverage can be very spotty in that area. Did she try to walk out of the area or to find cell coverage and become lost?
I don't know *exactly* where her car was found. It's about 15 miles from Skykomish to Stevens Pass. But in general, this is an EXTREMELY densely wooded area.

It is interesting that they say her cell is powered off or turned off. Maybe I should not get hung up on those specific words.

Would you say this is a well traveled road/area?

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed · Jul 29, 2020

GrandmaBear said:
It is interesting that they say her cell is powered off or turned off. Maybe I should not get hung up on those specific words.

Would you say this is a well traveled road/area?

Yes, extremely. Not like city traffic, but there is LOTS of recreation in the area. Hiking, water sports, camping, etc. It's about 90 minutes east of Seattle. But again, also very remote and densely wooded in certain spots.

Hope this works:

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SheWhoMustNotBeNamed · Jul 29, 2020

Where Is Gia Fuda? Police Ask Public for Dash Cam Footage to Aid in Search of Missing 18-Year-Old Girl

Gia Fuda, 18, disappeared from Washington State's Maple Valley early Friday.

www.insideedition.com

Disappearance of Gia Fuda: Police Ask Public for Dash Cam Footage to Aid in Search of Missing 18-Year-Old Girl

Police in Washington State are asking the public to help locate an 18-year-old who disappeared last week by handing over any dash cam footage they have. Gia Fuda, 18, disappeared from Maple Valley early Friday after she left her home in her 2008 Toyota Corolla.

The car was found abandoned near Stevens Pass with an empty gas tank Saturday. Fuda's purse and wallet were inside the vehicle.

"Overnight bags she had packed for a visit with a friend were also in the vehicle," police said.

King County Sheriff Deputies have made a plea for drivers who were driving in the area Friday or Saturday to check any footage they might have.

Police said they are specifically looking for any footage with a Corolla on the side of the road with a woman in it, and to see whether she was with someone else or alone. They are also looking for any other vehicles that might have pulled over to the side of the road alongside Fuda's.

Fuda’s cell phone has not been found and investigators have learned it was powered off where the car was located, police said. The vehicle was left "approximately 10 miles from the closest gas station," cops said.

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed · Jul 29, 2020

Okay so her bags were found in the vehicle. That is not good.

GrandmaBear · Jul 29, 2020

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed said:
Yes, extremely. Not like city traffic, but there is LOTS of recreation in the area. Hiking, water sports, camping, etc. It's about 90 minutes east of Seattle. But again, also very remote and densely wooded in certain spots.

Hope this works:

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Oh it did, thank you. I zoomed in and one can see the denseness and all of the trees and more. So beautiful and remote if one hikes, etc., but highly traveled...? Do I have that about right?

GrandmaBear · Jul 29, 2020

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed said:
Okay so her bags were found in the vehicle. That is not good.

Yes, I was hoping for the opposite too. I was kind of leaning that she meant to leave but now that throws me... Ten miles from a gas station is a ways as well... However, she did have the cell and perhaps called someone and then powered it off herself? I guess I am still trying to find some hope here...

One thing I don't understand, but maybe it was due to LE, is at first the brother never mentioned bags and later he did. At first he guessed she went for coffee or a hike. The folks were concerned they said when she did not return home but if they knew she had overnight (I am guessing) bags and things with, not sure why that would be the case...

Not questioning them, again LE could have kept that quiet or asked them to.

They did say her last ping was in that area. I wonder if she did get a call off to anyone? I note it also says now her purse and wallet and bags. It doesn't sound good...

Yet she still must have had some initial plan that she packed for and was in this area...

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed · Jul 29, 2020

GrandmaBear said:
Oh it did, thank you. I zoomed in and one can see the denseness and all of the trees and more. So beautiful and remote if one hikes, etc., but highly traveled...? Do I have that about right?

Well, I guess it depends what you consider highly traveled. But yes. Especially with the weather this past week. There would have been people. Not like bumper to bumper gridlock, but people. I'm glad they're asking for dash-cam footage because it's highly likely that people DID drive past her.

Actually, here are some webcams of the area. I think it defaults to the Stevens Pass summit, but if you look just above the picture, you will see little bubbles and can move from west to east. Her vehicle would have been west of the summit.

I think the pictures refresh every few minutes or so. Not a lot of traffic right now, but it is a Wednesday morning. Friday afternoon would have been a bit busier.

WSDOT - Stevens Pass Road and Weather Conditions

www.wsdot.com

Guess Who · Jul 29, 2020

GrandmaBear said:
Yes, I was hoping for the opposite too. I was kind of leaning that she meant to leave but now that throws me... Ten miles from a gas station is a ways as well... However, she did have the cell and perhaps called someone and then powered it off herself? I guess I am still trying to find some hope here...

One thing I don't understand, but maybe it was due to LE, is at first the brother never mentioned bags and later he did. At first he guessed she went for coffee or a hike. The folks were concerned they said when she did not return home but if they knew she had overnight (I am guessing) bags and things with, not sure why that would be the case...

Not questioning them, again LE could have kept that quiet or asked them to.

They did say her last ping was in that area. I wonder if she did get a call off to anyone? I note it also says now her purse and wallet and bags. It doesn't sound good...

Yet she still must have had some initial plan that she packed for and was in this area...

Brother just might not be very observant

GrandmaBear · Jul 29, 2020

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed said:
Well, I guess it depends what you consider highly traveled. But yes. Especially with the weather this past week. There would have been people. Not like bumper to bumper gridlock, but people. I'm glad they're asking for dash-cam footage because it's highly likely that people DID drive past her.

Actually, here are some webcams of the area. I think it defaults to the Stevens Pass summit, but if you look just above the picture, you will see little bubbles and can move from west to east. Her vehicle would have been west of the summit.

I think the pictures refresh every few minutes or so. Not a lot of traffic right now, but it is a Wednesday morning. Friday afternoon would have been a bit busier.

WSDOT - Stevens Pass Road and Weather Conditions

www.wsdot.com

I am not a big believer in general of too many coincidences. I can for instance believe an 18 year old may pack and plan and yet plan poorly and maybe end up running out of gas... But then already we have an apparent "intent" to stay with a friend or something because she packed and now she ran out of gas. Okay. We then need a criminal that just lucked onto an opportunity and not just any criminal but one who would take a huge chance and abduct or (let's hope not) kill and be willing to risk prison if caught and did not even plan on this that day... Then a fairly well traveled road, as you say, and dash cams and more, so that makes it more of a risk someone will see him/them... Does the average motorist want to take that chance?

I say this only to also find hope here. I tend to believe or hope the average person passing by is not a criminal who would do something evil and most would help. Actually sadly, it is probably more likely people just continue on and don't care to stop at all...

I assume they checked and know the car ran out of gas... Her phone apparently is/was turned off there...

We do have a few lately that orchestrated their disappearance... The woman who left her child and her phone was found in a dumpster... Was with her bf i guess he was, with a stolen car. The 18 year old a month or so ago who allegedly went tanning and disappeared... Recent graduate or soon to be as well that one was...
And yet, all of her things are apparently in her vehicle and she is missing... Scary... Hard one to call.

I am leaning in one direction but since I do not know, I won't voice it. I can picture a scenario. No matter what the case is, even if something was voluntary, one still has to worry they are not with someone they should not have trusted, or did not encounter that opportunistic criminal which does happen.

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed · Jul 29, 2020

Gia Fuda: Maple Valley 18-year-old missing for a week found safe in woods

Update Aug. 1:

www.q13fox.com

Gia Fuda: Search intensifies, reward offered for info on missing Maple Valley 18-year-old

King County Search and Rescue bloodhounds searched for her on Monday and Tuesday in case she walked from her car through the rough terrain to get help. They are back out today continuing to try to find her.

Detectives believe it is possible she got picked up by someone she did not know.

Fuda is Gia's father. He is hoping that someone can provide any sort of clue to help find Gia.

“Somebody knows something. somebody knows something. I want that person to come clean. I want that person to come forward. I want my daughter back,” he pleaded.

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for any information on Gia Fuda’s whereabouts. You can remain anonymous. If you have seen her or know what happened to her, submit an anonymous tip to detectives through the P3Tips App that you can download to your cell phone for free or call 1-800-222-TIPS. Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound is a registered 501C3 non-profit organization. All rewards are paid based on donations from the public. Details and donations can be made at www.Crimestoppers.com.

SheWhoMustNotBeNamed · Jul 29, 2020

Not sure if the link will work since I think you have to "join" the group. But someone who owns property in the area saw her car, thought it was suspicious (VERY close to the road, purse out and visible) and took pics.

ETA: Nope, link didn't work. But it's in the Facebook group - Gia Fuda - Missing in Washington

WA GIOVANNA "GIA" FUDA: Missing from Maple Valley, WA - 24 July 2020 - Age 18 *Found Alive*

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WA GIOVANNA "GIA" FUDA: Missing from Maple Valley, WA - 24 July 2020 - Age 18 Found Alive