San Bernardino PD will seek charges in Sahray Barber case

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- San Bernardino police announced on Thursday that they will seek charges for false statements given to investigators in the Sahray Barber missing person case.

"We will submit a case to the district attorney's office, probably within the next week or two," San Bernardino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said in a YouTube video.

The 22-year-old art student went missing on March 9 after she left her apartment near the Cal State San Bernardino campus. Her laptop and cellphone were found in the bushes nearby.

Concern was heightened because Barber lives in an apartment complex across the street from the college, and there had been a string of attacks at the school, including an attempted kidnapping.

A massive search was launched to find the missing woman, and police found evidence that led them to suspect foul play was involved.

"It's fair to say that this investigation cost us tens of thousands of dollars," Burguan said.

During the investigation, Barber's roommates gave information "that caused our detectives to question their honesty," Burguan said.

The roommates, whose names have not been released, were asked to take a polygraph exam, which determined that they may be lying.

After more than a week, Barber re-appeared on March 19.

"We learned that she voluntarily ... left her apartment because of some things that were going on in her life," Burguan said.

Barber headed to Los Angeles, where she checked into a hospital under a fake name.

"In addition, she saw herself on the news while she was in the hospital and knew that people were looking for her, and she still failed to come forward," Burguan said.

Barber left the hospital and went to a shelter, Burguan said, where shelter officials questioned her name and story. Ultimately, the truth came out, and officials contacted the San Bernardino Police Department.

It's unclear whether the charges will be against Barber or the roommates.

Barber released a statement Thursday regarding her disappearance, read it here.