Body Found Near Park Where Searchers Were Looking for Missing North Oakland Woman

By Bay City News Service

Law enforcement officials say they have located an unidentified woman's body in Vacaville during their search Friday afternoon for missing North Oakland woman Sandra Coke.

Officers would not confirm whether the body they found resembled Coke. They said they are awaiting confirmation from the Solano County coroner's office on whether it is her. Once they notify next of kin they are expected to release the name.

However, the search was ended after the body was found, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Solano County sheriff's Lt. Daryl Snedeker said search and rescue teams found the body in a rural area of Vacaville west of Interstate Highway 80, across from Lagoon Valley Park.

Snedeker stressed that the Oakland Police Department's investigation into Coke's disappearance is ongoing.

"It's quickly evolving," he said.

Coke, 50, was last seen at her home in the 600 block of Aileen Street around 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

Her 15-year-old daughter last saw her that night, and family members said she was meeting someone with information about the family's stolen dog. When she never returned her daughter reported her missing

 Her car was found two miles away from her home the following night and one of her two cellphones was eventually found discarded along Highway 80 in Richmond.

Thursday evening, a search involving several law enforcement agencies, including the Oakland Police Department and the Solano County Sheriff's Office, was focused on an area near Lake Chabot behind Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo.

The search there resumed this morning with boats and dogs scouring the lake and surrounding area.

Just after noon, Solano County sheriff's officials and Oakland police said the search was moving to Lagoon Valley Park in Vacaville.

Authorities declined to elaborate what prompted the operation to move.

Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson said Coke was seen Sunday night with Randy Alana, 56.

Watson declined to say today whether Alana, who has been declared a person of interest in the case, will face charges in connection with her disappearance.

Alana was arrested on an unrelated parole violation since Coke's disappearance.

He had dated Coke in the past, according to police, and is a registered as a high-risk sex offender. He has prior convictions for rape, rape in concert with force or violence and kidnapping to commit a sex offense.

Coke is an investigator at the federal public defender's office in Sacramento.

She has not gone missing before and it is uncharacteristic of her to leave her daughter alone at home unexpectedly, family members said.

Coke's sister, Tanya Coke, and her childhood friend, Wendy Springer, have announced a $100,000 reward for anyone who can provide information that will directly lead to finding Coke.

An anonymous tip line has been set up at (415) 385-5190 and other tips can be sent to findsandracoke@gmail.com.

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