California: Missing Tennessee Woman Nikki Alcaraz Found Alive
A Tennessee woman who went missing during a road trip with her boyfriend has been located safe and unharmed in California, Independent reports.
Nikki Alcaraz, 33 years old, and her boyfriend, Tyler Stratton, were discovered in Eureka, California, at approximately 7:15 am on Tuesday, as confirmed by a statement from the Redding Police Department.
Authorities in Eureka announced that Stratton was taken into custody due to an unrelated warrant. Alcaraz and Stratton had embarked on their journey in a black Jeep Wrangler, traveling from Cheatham County to Orange County, California, earlier in the month to visit family.
Concerns for Alcaraz's safety arose after the couple was stopped by law enforcement in New Mexico for an alleged domestic violence incident.
Although her family became increasingly worried, no charges were pursued by the police as Stratton claimed to have also suffered physical harm, leading to their release.
Body camera footage, released on Tuesday, revealed both Alcaraz and Stratton with facial injuries. On May 27, the Redding Police Department reported a sighting of Alcaraz, also known as Nikki Cunningham, at a Walmart in Redding, California.
The following Tuesday, authorities in Redding confirmed that she had been located safe and sound.
The Moriarty Police Department in New Mexico has officially informed the Redding Police Department that Nikki is no longer listed as a missing person.
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Witness Recounts Gruesome Incident Before Tennessee Woman Went Missing
A truck driver who witnessed a disturbing incident involving the boyfriend of the missing Tennessee woman has come forward with his account, describing the violent scene that has haunted him since.
Jordan Hamilton, speaking to The Daily Beast, revealed that he saw the boyfriend physically assault the woman so brutally that she later had nightmares about it.
A woman placed a frantic 911 call on May 4, according to Torrance County Sheriff's Office. The caller was heard screaming but then abruptly stopped responding to the dispatcher.
Shortly after, a truck driver passing by contacted emergency services, reporting a possible domestic altercation between a man and a woman.
Motivated by his military background and his regular route as a long-haul trucker from Georgia to California, Hamilton felt compelled to intervene immediately.
The incident report states that as Hamilton drove by, he noticed the woman sitting on the ground while the man hovered over her, delivering a punch to her face.
Hamilton recounted that he could hear the woman, identified as Alcaraz, sobbing as he approached the scene. Acting as a protector, Hamilton positioned himself between Alcaraz and the aggressor, identified as Stratton.
Alcaraz explained the situation to the sole responding deputy while Hamilton shared his version of events.
The incident report indicated that Stratton appeared to have blood coming from his mouth and nose, prompting the officer to request Hamilton's assistance in placing handcuffs on him.
Tennessee Woman Went Missing
Following the encounter with law enforcement, the missing Tennessee woman Alcaraz reportedly reached out to her sister, Toni Alcaraz, in a state of distress, PEOPLE noted.
Toni Alcaraz described the conversation, noting that her sister was in tears and visibly injured. "Her eye was already turning black, and you could tell she was beaten up pretty bad," Toni Alcaraz shared.
After the police encounter, Alcaraz and her boyfriend, Stratton, went their separate ways. A family acquaintance of Alcaraz traveled to New Mexico to pick her up and accompany her on the journey to California.
However, on the day they were scheduled to depart, Alcaraz stated that she needed to find Stratton. As a result, the family friend proceeded to California without her. From that point on, Alcaraz was considered missing until her recent appearance during the Memorial Day weekend.
A few days later, Alcaraz allegedly contacted her sister, this time from Arizona, informing her that she was there and en route to California.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Missing Tennessee woman Nikki Alcaraz found in California - From LiveNOW from FOX
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