Vanished in the Mist: The Unsolved Disappearance of Alice Ku in Taiwan

A Promising Life Interrupted

Alice Yafang Ku, a dedicated tutor from Mountain View, California, was known for her commitment to students across the Bay Area. Born in 1983, she had built a reputable career assisting learners in Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, and Mountain View. Her sudden disappearance in late 2019 during a trip to Taiwan with her husband, Harald Herchen, left her community and family in shock and searching for answers.

The Fateful Journey to Taiwan

On November 23, 2019, Alice and Harald traveled to Taiwan, ostensibly for a business trip. Photographs from their visit depict a couple enjoying the scenic beauty of Taiwan, including images of Alice at a botanical garden and near waterfalls. The last known photo of Alice, a self-portrait taken on the morning of November 29, shows her applying mascara in a hotel bathroom. That day, Harald claimed he dropped her off at the Hualien train station for a journey to visit her parents in Yangmei, near Taipei.

Discrepancies in Communication

Harald reported receiving an email from Alice on November 30, stating she had arrived at her parents' home and wished to extend her stay, requesting a change in her return flight to December 7. However, investigations revealed that the email originated from the same hotel where Harald was staying alone, casting doubt on its authenticity. Further scrutiny showed that Alice's email and device activity ceased on November 29, aligning with the day of her disappearance.

Family's Alarming Discoveries

Alice's family was unaware of her marriage to Harald and had no knowledge of her trip to Taiwan. Her parents, Weichiao Ku and Pi Lien Kuo, were surprised by the news, and her brother, George Ku, initiated a search upon realizing she was missing. Efforts included visiting her Mountain View apartment, where a sign read "Welcome Home, Alice. I love you," but neighbors reported not seeing her for days. The family filed a missing person report with the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, which was later transferred to the Mountain View Police Department....Read More

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