11/14/2025
In Salt Lake City, Utah, the family of a Holladay woman who went missing in California is speaking out about her disappearance and their worries.
35-year-old Danielle Staley from Holladay went missing from Santa Cruz, California on Nov 6, around 11:23 p.m. near the Rio Del Mar State Beach. Today, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said that they believe that Staley may be at risk and that foul play might be involved.
Danielle is roughly 5’6″ tall and weighs around 120 lbs. She has blonde hair and was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and leopard-print leggings the last time she was sighted.
Authorities say foul play may be involved.
According to Sergeant West with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office (SCCSO), Staley was last seen meeting a group and attending a beach bonfire while traveling with a friend in California. She did not return to the van she was staying in with her friend and left her personal belongings and cell phone behind on the beach.
While SCCSO is actively investigating every lead and potential sighting, Danielle Staley’s family says they are also exhausting every effort to find their loved one.
Danielle’s mother, April Miller, has stated that Danielle has been travelling through California with an on-again off-again romantic partner since late September and regularly kept in contact with family.
Her mother stated she talked to her at least four times a week and we texted the other days… She has been in communication with them regularly.
Her mother also stated, "She’s not trying to disappear from her family.” “You know, if she has gone missing, I feel that she would have done everything in her power to get a call out to one of us to let us know that she was ok.”
The SCSSO reportedly reached out to Danielle’s family shortly after she was reported missing and have been communicative, though that has raised concerns with the family.
“We heard almost immediately from police, and CSI has been going into the van that they’re driving for three days now. We don’t know whether or not they found anything concrete, but the extent to which they’ve kept in contact with us makes us pretty alarmed,” Miller added, “They think that foul play is involved. They really think that she just did not walk off and decide to leave.”
Danielle’s family also says they are worried about her relationship with the individual she is traveling with.
“We’ve been concerned for years about that. He’s been saying that basically, she just walked off, not taking her purse, her phone, not taking one thing other than the clothes on her back,” Miller said, “Honestly, we’re really alarmed by this because that’s not Danielle.”
Above all, though, Danielle’s family is worried about her safety and wants her home.
“She’s really a trusting, loving person- the funniest person to have a conversation with of all time,” said Frankie Grey, Danielle’s brother, “She’s so fun and funny and just the life of any room.”
“We love her so very much and she’s absolutely an important part of our family,” Miller added, “We’re panicking right now.”
While Danielle’s mother and brother have been posting on social media and looking for any lead on Danielle’s whereabouts, her stepdad and sister are traveling to Santa Cruz to put up flyers and help in the search for her.
The family are asking the public for any help in finding Danielle.
“Share everything- anything you see on socials. Even if you don’t know anybody in California… We’re all just a few steps away from knowing somebody,” Grey said, “Any one person’s eyes on the situation is just one more potential witness to anybody that may have seen her.”
“There could be people here in Salt Lake who know the situation of the relationship,” April Miller said, “Maybe not her going missing, but they maybe have had dealings in the past that if they have any information or have had contact, please, please reach out.”
“She is a valuable part of our family, and we just want her back,” Miller added, “We will continue to search everything we can.”
If you have any information on Danielle’s whereabouts, SCCSO said that you can contact the sheriff’s office at 831-471-1121. Danielle’s family also provided this phone number: 831-454-7600.
Additionally, SCCSO detectives is asking anyone who works or lives near Beach Drive, Rio Del Mar Boulevard, the Esplanade, or any other nearby areas to provide surveillance footage captured between Nov. 5 and 7.
