Los Angeles, California – A family is desperate for answers after their loved one vanished during a cross-country trip to Southern California with her boyfriend, who is also missing. Nikki Alcaraz, a 33-year-old mother from Tennessee, embarked on a road trip in her black Jeep alongside her boyfriend, Tyler Stratton, and their dog. Their intended destination was Orange County, where they planned to visit Alcaraz’s family. However, three weeks ago, Alcaraz disappeared in Moriarty, New Mexico.
Toni Alcaraz, Nikki’s sister, expressed deep concerns about the situation. “There are many possibilities that I’m scared of after not hearing from her for three weeks now,” she shared, emphasizing the family’s growing anxiety.
Trouble became apparent when the couple arrived in New Mexico. On May 4, a report from the Torrance County Sheriff’s Department revealed that Alcaraz had a black eye. A witness stated that Stratton had punched her in the face, while Stratton claimed that he was also hit. However, neither party opted to press charges, and they left the police station separately.
Alcaraz was later dropped off by the police in Moriarty, where she contacted her sister. Toni Alcaraz described her sister’s condition, saying, “Her eye was already turning black, and you could tell she was beat up pretty bad.”
In an attempt to assist, a family friend traveled to New Mexico to meet up with Alcaraz and bring her back to California. However, on the day they were supposed to depart, she informed him that she had to return and find her boyfriend.
On May 9, Toni Alcaraz received a text message from her sister stating that she was in Arizona and planned to continue driving to California. Concerns intensified as Toni expressed her fear that something may have happened to them, considering the possibility of another altercation or a potential accident involving Alcaraz’s Jeep.
A license plate reader detected Alcaraz’s Jeep near Flagstaff, Arizona earlier this month, but authorities discovered that her phone appeared to be out of service.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Tyler Stratton has an unrelated arrest warrant from Tennessee related to a theft charge.
As the search for Nikki Alcaraz and Tyler Stratton continues, the family remains hopeful for their safe return, urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in resolving this distressing situation.