Remains of Tarzana Woman Who Mysteriously Disappeared In January Found

TARZANA, CA — The coroner's office Wednesday confirmed that the skeletal remains found earlier this month in Santa Clarita are those of a 26-year-old Tarzana woman who suddenly disappeared from the Tarzana-Reseda area in January.

The remains were of Marisela Garcia were found about 12:15 p.m. on March 7 on Golden Valley Road about one-quarter mile west of Robert C Lee Parkway, according to coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

Her autopsy results were deferred pending additional tests, Winter said. The state of Garcia's remains indicated her body had "been out there for some time," he said.

Los Angeles police issued a call for help in locating the woman in the days after she was last seen.

Police said at the time that Garcia was last seen on Jan. 13 in the 18200 block of Sherman Way in Reseda, but her younger sister Sarah has told reporters that the two were shopping the previous evening at a Goodwill store in the 19200 block of Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana, and that Marisela vanished after saying she was going outside to have a cigarette.

City News Service and Patch staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.