The Rico Harris missing case came to light on October 10, 2014.
When Rico bade farewell to his family as he left Alhambra, California, for an anticipated visit to his girlfriend’s residence, it marked a departure from which he would not return.
The former Harlem Globetrotter vanished without a trace, despite extensive efforts by law enforcement to locate him or shed light on the events.
Investigation Discovery’s ‘Disappeared: California Leaving’ aims to unveil the truth behind Rico’s enigmatic disappearance by delving into the athlete’s history leading up to that fateful day.
Whether you are curious about Rico’s decorated career as an athlete or seek insights into the police probe into his disappearance, the show promises to address your queries.
Rico’s life took an unexpected turn after a head injury abruptly halted his basketball career.
Even so, those familiar with him depicted him as affable and easy-going.
Naturally, Rico sought answers but instead found himself in a relationship with Jennifer Song just before he vanished inexplicably.
According to one account, the two were cohabiting, and she even assisted him in preparing for their relocation.
The events of that day remain shrouded in mystery, and to this day, no definitive conclusions have been drawn about his disappearance, leaving many people distraught over this tragedy.
The Mysterious Disappearance of Rico Harris
Rico had grand plans for a special family gathering and an equally significant trip to see his girlfriend.
Departing from Alhambra, California, on October 9th, by 8 AM the following morning, he seemed to be on track until he made a stop at a gas station in Lodi, unaware that shortly after this, he would veer off course and meander aimlessly in the Capay Hills
His girlfriend grew concerned when Rico, who had not slept for over 36 hours, contacted her. However one perceives it, excessive time behind the wheel can pose a danger!
Song’s apprehension escalated when Rico left a voicemail around 10:45 that morning, stating he was heading to the mountains to recuperate.
However, he never reached Seattle by evening. Despite Song’s persistent attempts to contact him through calls or texts, Rico did not respond to his family’s pleas.
The Inquiry Team Gathers Evidence
After four days of silence, Rico’s vehicle was found abandoned in Yolo County – a staggering 450 miles from his home – prompting a missing persons case.
On October 14, Harris’s vehicle was discovered in a park in Yolo County, Northern California, but despite extensive searches, Harris was never located.
The case took an intriguing turn when law enforcement tracked a “ping” from Harris’s cell phone, indicating it was over 70 miles from the car’s location.
The mystery deepened as the car appeared to have been ransacked, out of fuel, and had a dead battery.
Investigators were perplexed as to why Harris was on that specific road, far from the direct route from LA to Seattle.
Finally, an individual contacted the police to report discovering a backpack and cell phone believed to belong to Harris.
The phone contained a video of Harris throwing his CDs and tearing things apart in his car, explaining the state of the vehicle but offering no insight into Harris’s puzzling actions.
More details on the troubling twists in the case are provided by Stories of the Unsolved.
Is Rico Harris Still Alive?
Rico’s whereabouts remain unknown, and his fate is uncertain. Despite exhaustive search efforts yielding no results, the case was made public, urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
The show mentioned two tips received, alleging sightings of Rico on October 11.
One witness claimed to have seen Rico sitting on a guardrail near where his phone and backpack were found around 5:30 am, while another witness reported seeing him walking along California’s Route 16 at 8 am the same day.
Nevertheless, both leads proved to be dead ends, and Rico remained missing. Despite the lack of headway in the case, it remains active, and authorities are still striving to provide closure to Rico’s family.
To date, no evidence points to foul play, and officials maintain hope that Rico can be safely reunited with his loved ones. Rico’s family is also collaborating with the police, optimistic for a positive resolution to the investigation.
