Heidi Planck disappearance: Detectives search landfill in Castaic amid search for missing mom
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - Detectives on Monday were searching a landfill in Castaic amid the search for Heidi Planck, a missing Los Angeles-area mom who vanished in Downtown Los Angeles on October 17.
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating Planck's disappearance, which led them to the Chiquita Canyon Landfill, located at 29201 Henry Mayo Drive in the Castaic. At this time, authorities have not released any suspect information or details on what led them to the landfill.
Crews search Castaic landfill amid Heidi Planck disappearance
LAPD detectives served a search warrant Monday morning at the landfill to excavate a specific area of the landfill, manually search it for human remains, and collect any related evidence. The search could take days, possibly longer than a week.
Her ex-husband, Jim Wayne, spoke out in a news conference Monday afternoon after learning detectives were led to a landfill in their search for her.
Wayne made an appeal and is asking those who know what happened to Planck to come forward.
"We need the public to understand we still need a little bit of help. We know for sure there are people who know for sure what has happened, and who know the truth of what’s going on with Heidi. We need someone to step forward and please fill in some of the blanks," Wayne said.
Heidi Planck
The single mom of an 11-year-old boy was last seen on video surveillance on Oct. 17 at an apartment complex in DTLA located at 1201 S. Hope Street. About 30-minutes after the video was recorded, Planck's dog was found wandering the 29th floor of the secure, high-rise residential building – with no signs of Planck.
"What I noticed is that she didn’t seem to have a bag with her," and that she wasn’t wearing the sweater or jacket she had on at the game.
"Our 11-year-old boy needs to know what has happened to his mama. And that’s why I’m making an appeal to say ‘we need some help,'" Wayne added.
Wayne said their little boy is "doing well" under the circumstances and that he has a "great support system" at home and at school.
As far as her friends knew, she had no links to the area and no reason to be there.
"Her friends are like family to us. Always have been and that will never change," he said.
Wayne also noted he can’t imagine someone would want to harm his ex-wife.
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"Forensic evidence was located inside the building which has led detectives to believe an incident occurred resulting in Planck’s death," LAPD officials wrote in a press release on Monday.
Planck was reported missing on Oct. 20 by her ex-husband. On Oct. 29, LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division assumed investigative responsibility for the missing persons case. Since that time, detectives have worked tirelessly to gather leads related to Planck’s disappearance.
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Planck’s 2017 Range Rover was discovered on Nov. 4 in the subterranean parking garage of a residential building located several blocks from 1201 S. Hope Street.
LAPD detectives served a search warrant Monday morning at the landfill to excavate a specific area of the landfill, manually search it for human remains, and collect any related evidence. The search could take days, possibly longer than a week.
"It is anticipated this search and recovery operation could take approximately seven to ten days to complete. There may be an impact on community members who live around the Chiquita Canyon Landfill, specifically the community of Val Verde. Efforts are being made to minimize and mitigate that impact. We ask for the community’s understanding and support during this search and recovery effort," the LAPD wrote.
The LAPD is asking anyone who lives in the building, or was around 1201 S. Hope, on or about October 17, and has any information that may assist detectives in their investigation, to contact Robbery-Homicide Division at 213-486-6840.
Additional details were not immediately available.
FOX 11's Kelli Johnson contributed to this report.
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