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Josephine Vargas Missing Person Case

Last seen in Santa Ana, California on Oct 27, 2013

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Victim Details

Jan 12, 2014

Aug 3, 2020

Josephine

Vargas

47

34

62 inches

63 inches

105 lbs

Hispanic / Latino

Female

Oct 27, 2013

Santa Ana

California

Orange County

14760

Santa Ana Police Department

Santa Ana

California

Orange County

92701

Victoria Jurado

Investigator

60 Civic Center Plaza, California

7142458665

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.santa-ana.org/departments/police/

1329614

Santa Ana Police Department

Brown

Brown

Brown

No

Oct 10, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP23203) and 9 other sources
Josephine Vargas, a 34-year-old woman from Santa Ana, California, was last seen on October 23, 2013. She disappeared after leaving her sister's birthday party, telling her family she was walking to a nearby store. Initially, her family believed she was with her husband, and her husband thought she was with family, which delayed the reporting of her disappearance until October 27.

Josephine was one of several women who disappeared in the same area of Santa Ana, a region known for drug and prostitution activity. Investigators later linked her case to that of two other missing women, Kianna Jackson and Martha Anaya, as well as a fourth victim, Jarrae Estepp, whose body was found in a recycling plant in Anaheim.

In 2014, registered sex offenders Franc Cano and Steven Dean Gordon were arrested and charged with the abductions and murders of these women. Both men were wearing GPS ankle monitors at the time, and during his trial, Gordon admitted guilt and revealed the victims' bodies were discarded in dumpsters. Gordon was sentenced to death, but Cano has yet to be tried.

Josephine left behind three children, and her family stated that it was uncharacteristic of her to abandon them. Foul play is strongly suspected in her case due to the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the connections to other victims.
Last Seen: Oct 27, 2013

Links to Additional Sources (9)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Josephine "Monique" Vargas... - Missing Persons Cases Network">Josephine "Monique" Vargas... - Missing Persons Cases Network
  • Josephine Monique Vargas - California Department of Justice
  • Josephine Monique Vargas - The Charley Project
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP23203
  • Kianna Jackson, Josephine Vargas, Martha Anaya Missing From ...
  • Santa Ana missing women: 1 woman found; not linked to 3 others
  • Police Hunt for 3 Missing Women in Santa Ana - NBC Los Angeles
  • Josephine Vargas - New Santa Ana -
  • Suspected serial killer admits to murders of 4 women in Anaheim ...

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (6)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    82%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Long Beach, California - unidentified case UP91724
    Jane Doe — Long Beach, California
    UP91724 • Found Apr 20, 2022
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 34 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 97%21 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0"–5'3" vs 5'2"–5'3"
    Weight 82%125–140 lb vs 105 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP158123
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP158123 • Found Apr 10, 2026
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 40–65 vs 34 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 94%34 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1"–5'7" vs 5'2"–5'3"
    Weight 91%120 lb vs 105 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — Arleta, California - unidentified case UP104482
    Jane Doe — Arleta, California
    UP104482 • Found Apr 11, 2023
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 34 when missing
    Race 60%White
    Location 90%48 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2"–5'5" vs 5'2"–5'3"
    Weight 82%125–145 lb vs 105 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP59708
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP59708 • Found Aug 24, 2019
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 40–65 vs 34 when missing
    Race 60%White
    Location 94%31 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 6 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0"–5'6" vs 5'2"–5'3"
    Weight 100%110–130 lb vs 105 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — Alpine, California
    UP107707 • Found Jun 5, 2023
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 34 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 78%89 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3"–5'7" vs 5'2"–5'3"
    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP81695
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP81695 • Found Jun 26, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 34 when missing
    Race 60%White
    Location 94%32 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0"–5'6" vs 5'2"–5'3"
    Weight 57%136 lb vs 105 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    Josephine Vargas, 34, of Santa Ana was last seen October 23, 2013 after leaving her sister’s... ...Read More
    12/10/2024

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