“California State Parks rangers have a true understanding of the terrain of the parks they are assigned to.  When someone is reported missing, they work with search and rescue teams in an attempt to bring that person home.  They are a valuable asset, it’s unfortunate that they are understaffed, which puts the public at risk when visiting State Parks.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

OCEANSIDE – California State Parks rangers have been assisting local and federal search teams in the effort to locate Angelica Brophy, 44, who was reported missing to the Oceanside Police Department on July 6, 2026.

Search efforts have been conducted in the Palomar Mountain State Park area where Brophy’s car was located in the on July 9, 2026, in a State Park’s parking lot. These search operations were led by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and included personnel from California State Parks, the U.S. Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Team, and the Oceanside Police Department. Canine teams from the San Diego Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service also assisted in the search efforts.

Throughout the investigation, detectives have continued to pursue newly developed leads. As a result, three additional searches were conducted within Palomar Mountain State Park based on potential investigative leads. Despite these extensive efforts, as of July 22, 2026, Angelica Brophy has not been located.

At this time, coordinated ground search operations in Palomar Mountain State Park have been suspended. The investigation remains active, and detectives will continue to follow up on new information and investigative leads as they are developed.  Law enforcement reports there is no evidence of foul play in this case.

The following is a summary of the efforts undertaken during the Angelica Brophy Investigation:

• Angelica Brophy was reported missing to the Oceanside Police Department on July 6, 2026, at approximately 9:30 pm. The next day, the Investigations Division began following up on leads to locate Brophy. On July 8, 2026, detectives contacted Brophy’s cell phone carrier, but they were unable to provide any information on the location of Brophy’s phone.
• Investigators determined Brophy’s last known location was Harrah’s Resort in Valley Center on July 6, 2026, at approximately 3:30 pm.  Approximately 50 minutes later, Brophy entered Palomar Mountain State Park after purchasing a parking ticket from park staff.  
• On July 9, 2026, Brophy’s vehicle was found in the parking lot of Palomar Mountain State Park, but Brophy was not with it. Officers with California State Parks, supported by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s Search and Rescue team, began searching for Brophy. Search and Rescue operations were conducted on the evening of July 9 from 7 pm – 1:30 am, on July 10 from 8 am – 4:30 pm, and on July 11 from 8 am – 4 pm. Despite their best efforts, the search-and-rescue teams were unable to locate Brophy.
• On July 12 and July 13, 2026, dive team members with California State Parks and Port of San Diego Harbor Police responded to Palomar Mountain State Park to search a nearby pond, with negative results. San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Team resumed search efforts this morning, July 14, 2026.