A 21-year-old rancher with a history of fugitives disappeared last month while walking to a new job in a “very rural” area of Utah.
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Green was reported missing on April 17 after she failed to show up for her shift at a ranch in the remote community of Callao, according to the Juab County Sheriff’s Office.
“I almost think someone picked her up,” said Green’s mother, Vanessa Simmons. He spoke to 2KUTV on Monday.
“We have no idea who it was or if they really came to pick her up or if they didn’t come and she tried to walk through the desert.”
Search warrants said Green had a history of mental health issues and had run away from home in the past, but this case proved to be even more gruesome.
People close to the young woman told police that Green maintained open communication with his family while on the run and would usually return after about a day.
But this time, her cell phone and social media accounts were silent, and all attempts to ping her device were futile, the warrant states.
The remoteness of Callao’s community also alarms law enforcement authorities.
Callao was originally part of the Pony Express and is located in the northern part of Snake Valley. According to the Census Bureau, Juab County’s entire population is less than 12,000.
“This area of our county is approximately three hours away from any major city and requires traveling on dirt roads,” the warrant states.
The day after Greene disappeared, police raided the unnamed ranch, but found no trace of the young woman.
The rancher told authorities she never arrived for her shift and had no contact with the new employees.
According to the warrant, search and rescue teams combed the surrounding area and the route Green would have taken to get to work, but were “unable to locate Elizabeth or determine where she may have gone.”
“Based on the information we have received, we are concerned that Elizabeth may be in danger of serious injury or death,” the warrant states.
“It is unclear whether Elizabeth was in danger and lost in the vast desert, or whether someone who had been communicating with her met with her and is holding her against her will.”
Green was last seen wearing a pink tie-dye high-top hoodie, light blue jeans and black Converse sneakers, according to a missing person poster. She also had a white backpack.
She is 5 feet 11 inches tall with brown hair and “green or hazel eyes, depending on what she’s wearing,” her mother said.
