In a puzzling turn of events, 32-year-old Chelsea Grimm has gone missing during her cross-country trip from San Diego to Connecticut. Last seen alive between September 27 and 30, Grimm’s sudden disappearance has left her family and law enforcement deeply concerned.
Grimm’s abandoned white Ford Escape was discovered by hunters on October 5 in the Kaibab National Forest in Ashfork, Arizona. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, who officially reported her missing on October 3, has been actively searching for her ever since. Social media updates from the sheriff’s office have included photos of Grimm, her distinctive tattoo on her left arm, her pet bearded dragon, and the clothes she was last seen wearing.
According to reports, Grimm had canceled plans with a friend on September 28, just two days before her car was found in a remote area. On that same day, a police officer responded to a call about suspicious activity near a cemetery in Williams, Arizona, approximately 18 miles from where Grimm’s car was spotted. Body camera footage obtained by azfamily.com shows the officer engaging in a conversation with Grimm, who appeared upset during the encounter. Grimm explained to the officer that she had been working on a photography project and had become emotional while photographing lost soldiers.
During their conversation, the officer suggested a nearby gas station area where Grimm could sleep without being disturbed. This was the last recorded sighting of Grimm. She reportedly had a brief exchange with a woodcutter who found her camping in a remote area of Ashfork on September 30 and assured him that she was okay.
Grimm’s family reported her missing on October 4, a day before the hunter discovered her abandoned vehicle. The car was locked, with all her belongings still inside, and her pet bearded dragon, named “Roz” or “Roxy,” was also missing.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information about Grimm’s whereabouts or any contact with her or her bearded dragon to come forward and contact them. The investigation is ongoing, and both the Search and Rescue and Criminal Investigations Divisions are actively involved in the search efforts.
Chelsea Grimm’s father, Stephen Grimm, expressed his hope for a positive outcome and placed his trust in the authorities. As the investigation continues, concerns grow for Grimm’s safety and well-being.
