Crime & Safety
Homicide Investigators, Family Desperately Seek Leads Into Covina Woman's Disappearance
The mother and grandmother, 49, was reportedly last seen in May at an ATM. Detectives wish to speak with man also at bank. See photos ...
LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA – Sheriff's homicide detectives and family members of a 49- year-old Covina-area grandmother missing since May asked for the public's help today to find her. The last confirmed sighting of Tamara Rummel was on the afternoon of May 20 at a bank ATM in Covina, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Deputy Lillian Peck of the Sheriff's Information Bureau said Rummel's daughter "last saw her mother when she dropped her off at her home in an unincorporated area of Covina. Investigators believe Rummel left her home about 90 minutes later as a passenger in an "unfamiliar" SUV, Peck said.
Images of a man with Rummel were captured at the ATM where she made a withdrawal, but detectives haven't confirmed if he was the person with whom Rummel left the house, Peck said.
Find out what's happening in Diamond Bar-Walnutfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Also suspicious, Tamara's cell phone activity ended hours after the ATM transaction, and she has not been seen or heard from since," Peck said.
Detectives are seeking the man's identity and believe he may have information about what happened to Rummel. They released a sketch of him Thursday at a news conference at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles.
Find out what's happening in Diamond Bar-Walnutfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Rummel's family described her as a mother of four and doting grandmother of six who retired 10 years ago as media director of a resource center for parents with special-needs children, Peck said.
She owned her home and was close to family and friends, making a disappearance and lack of communication since then totally out of character, investigators and family members said.
The man detectives want to identify wore a white T-shirt and baseball cap with an unknown logo on the front.
Rummel, known to her friends and family as "Tammy," is white, 5 feet 3, about 145 pounds, with light brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500 and ask for Sgts. Ken Perry or Dan McElderry. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS. All tips can be submitted anonymously.
--City News Service
