Jean Chang Kan Fung—a petite woman, described at the time as roughly **5 feet tall**, **90 pounds**, with **gray hair**—resided in San Francisco’s Richmond District. On **May 28, 2021**, at approximately **3:00 PM**, she left her home for a walk and did not return. That afternoon she was spotted by a California Highway Patrol officer walking along **State Route 1** near the **MacArthur Tunnel**; motorists had dialed in multiple 911 reports expressing concern about an
elderly pedestrian on the freeway shoulder.
Officers used a **translation app** to communicate—Fung spoke only Cantonese and Toisanese—and reportedly did not find her disoriented or in distress. Rather than escorting her home, they gave her a ride to a Safeway grocery store in the **Marina District**, several miles from her Richmond‑District residence. That was the last confirmed sighting of her alive. Surveillance footage released by San Francisco police on **June 6, 2021** shows Fung dressed in a **red or pink puffer jacket**, **purple sweater**, **brown pants**, **black UGG boots**, and a **red beanie** with the letters “LC” embroidered—matching eyewitness descriptions.
Given her elder status and unspecified potential medical conditions, Fung was officially designated **“at‑risk.”** Family members, community volunteers, and law enforcement launched a visible search effort, distributing flyers around the city and canvassing commonly visited locations such as **Clement Street**, **Crissy Field**, the **Golden Gate Bridge**, and nearby casinos including Graton and River Rock.
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On **June 10, 2021**, a **female body** was discovered floating and washed ashore at the **west end of Pedro Point** in **Pacifica, California**. Emergency crews responded and recovered the remains, which had evidently been in the water “for quite some time”. Official identification occurred in **mid‑August 2021**, when the **San Mateo County Coroner’s Office** confirmed the remains were those of Jean Fung, using DNA testing. The San Francisco Police Department requested the public and media to refrain from contacting her family during the difficult time.
The coroner’s report did not specify a cause of death publicly. Police stated they were conducting an investigation regarding the circumstances, but as of announcement time, no further detail on the manner or timeline of her death was released to the public.
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The case remained subject to public scrutiny largely because of the unusual circumstances surrounding her final known movements—particularly her interaction with the CHP officer. Coverage from 48 Hills News described the situation as a “mystery,” noting that Fung was dropped miles from home rather than being returned or taken to a safe location. Critics and community leaders, including San Francisco’s district attorney and local activists, raised questions about protocols, language access, and decision‑making in first response to non‑English speaking, elderly individuals.
Community members shared memories in tributes, portraying Jean Fung as a warm grandmother, noting her kindness and the family traditions she upheld. Her disappearance and subsequent death sparked conversations around cultural competence and systemic gaps in support for vulnerable populations.
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**In summary**, Jean Chang Kan Fung went missing on **May 28, 2021** after a routine walk. Following an encounter with CHP near the MacArthur Tunnel and a ride to Safeway, she vanished. Her body was found over two weeks later, on **June 10**, washed ashore at Pedro Point in Pacifica. Official identification came in **mid‑August** via DNA confirmation. Though her disappearance initially inspired extensive search efforts and public outreach, key questions—most notably why she was not taken home or given more tailored care—remain publicly unanswered.Last Seen: May 28, 2021
