Cheryl Jean Moser was found unharmed in Compton at about 3:45 a.m. at a 76 gas station in the corner of Alondra and Long Beach boulevards. According to the Orange County Sheriff's Department, a Los Angeles County deputy was on his regular patrol when he spotted a disoriented Moser, her dogs and her missing Toyota Prius at the gas station. She was found without her cellphone, purse or wallet.
Many questions remain about her disappearance. The search continues for a person of interest seen on surveillance images with Moser during the time when she was missing. The man is described as between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a slim build and many tattoos on his body. Detectives do not know their relationship.
Moser's son, Brian Johnson, says his mother is still sketchy on the details, but when asked about this person of interest, she says he did not threaten her or force her to do anything against her will.
At 8 a.m. Tuesday, police say Moser went to a local Verizon store to get her iPhone fixed, but she never returned home. During the time she was missing, detectives say they checked Moser's credit card statements and found several unexplained charges, including purchases in Laguna Beach and Pomona. In both situations, authorities say the person of interest was with her.
Officials showed Moser's family surveillance photos of the man, but they did not know who he was.
Orange County Sheriff's Department Spokesman Jim Amormino says those charges on Moser's credit card were made mostly at gas stations.
"When you have a Prius, you don't need to get gas four times in 24 hours. The story is strange, what he was doing with her, whether he made her purchase things for him or exactly what happened, is still under investigation. We don't know," said Amormino.
Johnson said he doesn't really care who that man is. What's important is that his mother is home.
If you have any information about this case, you're urged to contact the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 628-7170.
