The Mystery Behind LA' s Troubling ‘Help’ Satellite Images

LOS ANGELES, CA — Troubling messages spelled out in debris at a Los Angeles railroad yard and visible in Google Earth satellite images have stirred widespread concern and conspiracy theories, despite assurances from authorities that they are false alarms.

Residents of a homeless encampment near the corner of Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and Mission Road spent the week fielding interviews from reporters and amateur sleuths about the Google Earth images showing calls for help spelled out in debris.

The satellite images showing the words "HELP," "Traffico,""LAPD" and "FBI" went viral on social media this week and sparked international alarm on behalf of a possible trafficking victim in need of rescue. However, according to the police, railroad officials and neighbors of the property, the messages have been there for a year. The Los Angeles Police Department investigated the messages and found no evidence of a crime or a victim in need of rescue, LAPD Officer Tony Im told Patch.

"Anytime we go out there, we conduct a thorough investigation," Im said. "There is no crime or need of any assistance or help."

Union Pacific, which owns the land, also sought to dispel the furor over the images.

"Photos circulating on Google maps that show the word "help" on Union Pacific property were created about a year ago - no one was or is in danger," Union Pacific Communications Manager Jill Micek told Patch in an email. "A man trespassed on Union Pacific and other nearby properties to repeatedly create these misleading messages. We want to remind the public that it is illegal - and more importantly, unsafe - to trespass on Union Pacific property."

"We do know the individual that creates these does so on neighboring properties as well," Micek added.

In fact, at an RV encampment next to the property, the residents attributed the messages to a man named Jose in videos widely shared on X.

On Monday, the LAPD Central Division responded to one of the posts, noting,"We’ve had several different contacts with the individual you speak of. He has refused housing or a mental health evaluation. There is no evidence of Human Trafficking. He has been at the location for a few years."

Still, the images have been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people, stirring up a frenzy amongst Q-Anon adherents and people on X, who contend California's Democratic leadership is to blame. Some people posted AI images of apparent trafficking and underground tunnels at the location.