Carla Valpeoz Missing Person Case

Dec 19, 2018

Nov 29, 2021

Carla

Valpeoz

42

35

62 inches

116 lbs

Hispanic / Latino

Female

Carla Lopez Valpeoz, a 35-year-old woman from Detroit, Michigan, was a passionate and experienced world traveler. Despite being legally blind due to a condition called optic nerve atrophy diagnosed in her childhood, she did not let her diminishing eyesight deter her adventurous spirit. She had traveled to numerous countries, often alone, and authored a blog titled "Visionless Adventures" to chronicle her journeys. In December 2018, Carla traveled to Peru with a friend, Alicia Steele, to attend a wedding in Lima. Following the wedding, Carla embarked on a solo trip to see Machu Picchu, a place she had long dreamed of visiting. The last time her friend heard from her was on December 11, 2018, when Carla sent a text message expressing her awe of the ancient Incan site. She was last seen on December 12, 2018, leaving the Pariwana Hostel in Cusco. After her exhilarating visit to Machu Picchu, where she was assisted by a group of tourists she met, Carla and her new acquaintances returned to their hostel in Cusco in the early morning hours of December 12. Later that morning, surveillance footage captured Carla leaving the hostel and getting into a taxi alone. It is believed she took the taxi to a location where she could board a bus or shared taxi, possibly heading towards Písac, a village near Cusco. Concern for her safety grew when she failed to meet her friend in Lima for their scheduled flight back to the United States on December 15. Her family was alerted, and a missing person report was filed, prompting an international investigation involving Peruvian authorities, the U.S. State Department, and the FBI. The investigation into Carla's disappearance has been complex and filled with challenges. The last known image of her was captured by a security camera in Pisac, showing her walking with her cane in the direction of the Pisac Archaeological Park. Despite extensive searches of the park using drones and canine units, no trace of Carla or her belongings was found. Her family traveled to Peru to aid in the search and plead for information. Over time, the focus of the Peruvian police shifted, with some investigators theorizing she may have been taken or lured away, rather than having had an accident in the park. The case of Carla Valpeoz is a heart-wrenching story of a vibrant and determined woman who vanished while pursuing her passion for travel. Her disappearance highlights the vulnerabilities faced by solo travelers, even experienced ones, and the enduring pain and uncertainty for families of the missing.

Dec 11, 2018

Detroit

Michigan

Wayne County

48228

No

43405

Michigan State Police - Metro South Post

Taylor

Michigan

Wayne County

48180

Christopher Clark

Trooper

12111 Telegraph Road, Michigan

7342875000

State

Law Enforcement

SIS-0876-18

2018-12-19

Michigan State Police - Metro South Post

na

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/10/2026