PHOENIX — The Coconino County Sheriff's Office is asking the public for help in finding a missing 32-year-old woman. Chelsea Grimm was last seen on September 28th in Williams. Days later, her SUV was found northeast of Ash Fork, Arizona, on Forest Service Road 6 in the Kaibab National Forest.
It had two flat tires and Chelsea was nowhere to be found.
“It's excruciating. You wouldn't wish it on anyone," said Stephen Grimm, Chelsea's father.
“It's been just a horrible, horrible, horrible experience," said Janet Grimm, Chelsea's mother.
Chelsea's parents say their 32-year-old daughter left her home in San Diego on September 24th to drive to Connecticut for a wedding and to visit them. She was alone with the exception of her bearded dragon.
"The bearded dragon sounds a little different, but it's basically a lizard about 12 or 16 inches long and she usually had it on her shoulder," Stephen Grimm said.
On September 27th, Chelsea called her parents from Arizona and said she wasn't going to make it in time for the wedding. Instead, she was planning to stop and camp in Arizona for a couple of days.
"She said 'I think what I'm going to do is just take a couple of days and camp. And I'll get back to you. Please don't expect to hear from me for a couple of days,'" Janet Grimm said.
"Was camping something that was typical for her, or was that unusual for you to hear that she may have stopped to camp?” asked 12News reporter Bianca Buono.
“It was a little unusual. She had a lot of camping experience over her teen years. But hadn't done a lot of it since, but she's a capable outdoors person. She knows how to survive so I wouldn't say it was usual, but she's got skills. It's not the first time she's ever been in the wilderness," Stephen Grimm said.
On September 28th, Chelsea was seen in Williams, Arizona, according to the Coconino County Sheriff's Office.
By October 4th, her parents had not heard from her so they reported her missing to Phoenix PD. Her mom said they spoke on close to a daily basis.
On October 5th, hunters northeast of Ash Fork, Arizona in the Kaibab National Forest reported a suspicious white 2019 Ford Escape with two flat tires parked on a forest service road. They had noticed it two days prior on their journey in, and were surprised to see it still sitting there.
The car belonged to Chelsea but she was gone.
“Her pet was gone. Her wallet with her credit card and debit card, her driver's license was gone. Some clothes, I'm assuming clothes, and a sleeping bag are gone," Janet Grimm said.
"She may have gotten a ride because she was on a road where the car is, or was, a rural dirt road. Not a highway," Stephen Grimm said.
Chelsea's camera was left behind in her car which is where the Coconino County Sheriff's Office found the most recent photos taken by her.
Officials launched a search effort in the area from the air and on foot.
They say no foul play is suspected.
Family tells 12News her cell phone was pinged, but had been turned off on September 28th or 29th.
"Even if it seems trivial, we're hoping that someone saw her," Stephen Grimm said.
Chelsea's family and friends are urging the public to think back and come forward with any information. They look forward to the day they wake up and talk to their daughter again.
“We can't wait to get our baby girl back," Stephen Grimm said.
If you have any information, call the Coconino County Sheriff's Office at (928) 774-4523.
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