Family of missing student 'baffled' as footage shows her vanishing 'into the fog'

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By Asiya Ali

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The family of a young woman who went missing two years ago has pleaded for answers about what happened to their daughter.

Sydney West, 19, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was last seen walking toward a foggy San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge on September 30, 2020.

As reported by People, the UC Berkeley student was staying with family friends in the Bay Area, and on the morning she went missing, she took a ride-share service to the popular Crissy Field area where she often went to exercise and take photographs.

A lot of assumptions have been made about her disappearance, but her family and a private investigator remain "baffled".

Speaking to Fox News Digital, private investigator Scott Dudek said: "It was foggy, but she kind of disappears into the fog. You would think if somebody went and crawled up on the rails with all those people and bike riders, somebody would have either called, which, that never happened, or somebody would have tried to talk to her and try to come forward with all that publicity, and that never happened."

According to Dudek, the footage - which is not public and only viewed by bridge officials - shows that the iconic landmark was filled with pedestrians, bird-watchers, photographers, and athletes who all took part in activities at a park below.

The fog integrated with smoke from nearby wildfires was over the bridge which would ultimately cover any view of West's last known location.

The missing girl's mom, Kimberly West, says the video still perplexes her, stating: "There were a lot of people on the bridge that morning, so that's what continues to baffle us," adding: "And that's what we continue to hope - that there was somebody who maybe doesn't even realize they saw something."

West's family - who reside in North Carolina - reported her missing on October 1, 2020, according to the website: Find Sydney West. Her father, Jay West, revealed to KRON4 in 2021 that he spoke to his daughter the night before she vanished, saying: "We talked for a long time. A couple hours. We talked a lot about loving each other. I fully expected to talk to her the next day."

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West was last seen walking toward Golden Gate Bridge Golden Gate which was surrounded by fog. Credit: Marlon Roth / Alamy

The website disclosed that she suffered a concussion in the summer of 2020 before her move to Berkeley - where she was taking remote classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was disclosed that the online classes were tough for her so she deferred until Fall 2020.

On October 2, 2020, the San Francisco Police Department sent out a press release asking for the public's help in finding West. They alerted people that she was "considered at risk due to depression," adding: "At this time, we do not have any evidence that foul play was involved. We do not have any updates to release at this time," per People.

The student is 5'10, 130 lbs, and was reportedly last seen donning a light teal hoodie, tropical print Vans sneakers, and dark leggings. Her backpack was later discovered around the Golden Gate Bridge.

A $25,000 reward has now been offered for information leading to her whereabouts. Anyone with information about West is asked to reach out to private investigator Dudek at (925) 705-8328 or [email protected].

Featured image credit: Marlon Roth / Alamy