A criminal defense investigator for a public defender’s office and single mother Sandra Coke went missing from her North Oakland, California neighborhood Sunday evening when she left to follow a lead about her missing dog.
Coke, 50, is the single parent of her 15-year-old daughter, who last saw her mother Sunday when she left their home to meet up with someone who had called about their missing dog.
After their home was robbed in May, they found that their dog, Ginny, was missing. Coke had been frantically searching for the dog ever since, and even offered a reward of $1,000 on missing posters she distributed throughout the town. Those close to Coke suspect foul play and want police to do everything they can to find her.
"There's no question something had happened. There's no way she would have ever left her daughter there alone," said her best friend Wendy Springer, ABC reports.
When she did not return home Sunday night, her daughter contacted police. The next day, they found her abandoned car two miles from her home.
According to Mercury News, Coke helps fight to release death row inmates and constantly works to help poor and underprivileged people, which is why it is unlikely she made any enemies through her work.
Police are not sure if her disappearance is related to her job, but are now investigating.