Missing Persons - Please Help Find Elias Sorokin - $20,000 Reward Offer

Please Help Find Elias Sorokin, 29.










$20,000.00 Reward Offer
Email: eliasinfohome@gmail.com
Reward will be paid (no questions asked) for his safe return!

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Updated Info:

>> 4:30 PM/7-29-09 - Elias Sorokin's truck was found burned near Bonny Doon. Deputies have notstated (yet) whether anyone was in it or not.

>> A couple tried to use Sorokin's credit card to buy cosmetics and camping at the Target store in Watsonville on Wednesday. They were denied but got away.

>> Friday, a woman unsuccessfully tried to pass a $4,500 Kucoon check at a Bank of America in Santa Cruz. She also escaped.

>> Twice on Saturday, people tried to use Sorokin's check cards at Watsonville businesses. They were unsuccessful.

Police have not identified the people trying to pass Sorokin's checks and credit cards, but confirmed with video surveillance that they are not the missing man. Traub said the videos are not of high enough quality to publicize and ask for help identifying the people involved.
Investigators also aren't sure if the people with Sorokin's property are connected to his disappearance.

Meanwhile, Sorokin's community of friends in Southern California coming together in hopes of finding him. This week, they announced a $20,000 "no questions asked" reward for information leading to his safe return.

"There's definitely people willing to do this," his mother, Anna Oleynik of North Carolina, said. "We are sincere."

Information about Sorokin's disappearance has been posted on Burning Man Festival blogs and Facebook pages. Monday night, friends held a vigil in L.A. for him and plan to put up fliers in the Santa Cruz area asking for tips.

"We're not so concerned with trying to have anyone arrested as we are with trying to find him," said Jila Alaghamandan, a friend in Los Angeles.

A contingent of friends came to Santa Cruz on Tuesday with search dogs to look for Sorokin after psychics and astrologers told them it's possible Sorokin is being held against his will by unstable people. Friends said they are worried about his safety and that a psychic told them Sorokin may be in bad health.

"Everyone just trying to look for him," Alaghamandan said. "We're his friends and we're concerned and we love him and we're just trying to whatever we can to find him."

Sorokin is 5 feet 9 inches tall, 150 ponds with brown hair. He was driving his 2007 beige/gold 4-wheel-drive Toyota Tacoma with a matching Are-brand camper shell and California license plate No. 8H92932. His friends ask that anyone with information about Sorokin's disappearance e-mail them at freeandco1@yahoo.com.


NEWS ARTICLE:

Search for Missing Los Angeles Man
Turns Up Santa Cruz County Ties
by Jennifer Squires
7/27/2009

Local police are helping in the search for a missing Los Angeles man after people twice tried to use one of his credit card and cash a check in the county.

Elias Sorokin, 29, hasn't been seen since he left Oakland around 8 p.m. on July 20. Two hours later, he sent a text message to a friend that said he would be home around 4 a.m., according to reports from Sorokin's friends and family on a blog devoted to the Burning Man Festival.
That was the last anyone has heard from Sorokin. Police said foul play is possiblle.

"It's obvious that we're concerned that this person has been missing since the 20th," Watsonville police Sgt. Terry Traub said.

The missing-person investigation became connected to Santa Cruz late last week after someone tried to cash one of Sorokin's checks at the Bank of America on River Street in Santa Cruz, according to Santa Cruz police Capt. Steve Clark.

Thursday, a man and woman tried to use Sorokin's credit card to purchase items at the Target store in Watsonville. They were unsuccessful, but got away before police were notified.
Using video surveillance, investigators confirmed the man with the credit card was not Sorokin, according to Traub.

Although local police are looking into the cases of possible credit card and check fraud, the initial missing person case was filed with Oakland police, then was shifted to the Los Angeles Police Department because Sorokin lives in that city, Traub

It's unclear how Sorokin's personal items would have ended up in Santa Cruz County. Traub said Sorokin has a friend in the area and mentioned visiting, but also told friends he was on his way back to Los Angeles. Local law enforcement was notified Monday to be on the lookout for Sorokin and his pickup.

Word of Sorokin's disappearance and pleas for help has been posted on many Web sites about Burning Man, an annual art event and temporary community in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

"We hope that he is alive and well, but no one has heard from him," read one blog posted Sunday.

During his disappearance, Sorokin has missed business meetings, which is out of character, according to authorities. His truck - a 2007 beige/gold Toyota Tacoma with a matching Are-brand camper shell and California license plate number 8H92932 - also hasn't been located.

"It's definitely suspicion to us and that's why we're working so hard on the fraudulent use of the credit cards," Traub said. "I'm hoping some time the family will call us and say 'Oh yeah everything's good' and all we have is a lost wallet."

Sorokin is 5 feet 9 inches tall, 150 ponds with brown hair.


Police ask that anyone with information about him contact the Watsonville Police Department at 768-3300.

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Face Book Posting:

Elias Sorokin went up to Northern California for a few meetings and has not returned to LA. He was last seen Monday evening 7/20/09 around 8 pm in Oakland.




















A text was received by a friend Andrea on Monday night at 10 pm that he would be arriving back to LA around 4 am, Tuesday morning. He has not been heard of since.

We have now found out that someone has tried to cash a falsified check (he carries his check book on him at all times) and tried to use his credit cards.

If you have any information, if you've seen him, anything at all. Please email me at minx006.9@gmail.com or call me 323-314-7200. Although, I'm happy for your best thoughts and well wishes please do not bombard my email or phone. I need relevant information at this time. I know all of your hearts are with us at this time.

Please post this to your facebook. Even if you do or don't know Elias.

We have filled a missing person and have a private investigator, we are looking for answers and need your help.