Sheriff's Office need help locating missing Sierra Nevada college student

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office is requesting public assistance to help locate a 23-year-old Sierra Nevada College student who was reported missing yesterday, October 11, 2015.

Dianne Thacher's family, from Rhode Island, reported her missing to Washoe County, Nevada authorities and to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office. They had not heard from Thacher since October 5. Thacher was reportedly in California to meet up with friends and was staying at a motel in the 6000 block of Hollister Avenue. She was last seen checking out of her motel room on October 6. The same day, her vehicle, prior to her being reported missing, was found abandoned on the side of the road with a flat tire in the 7600 block of Hollister Avenue.

Thacher's cell phone was traced to an area several miles north of where her vehicle was located. The cell phone has not been active since October 6. Sheriff's deputies with the assistance of Nevada authorities have conducted an investigation into her disappearance. The past two days, Santa Barbara County Air Support has conducted aerial searches of the areas surrounding where her vehicle was found and where her cell phone was traced. The Sheriff's Search and Rescue team is conducting a ground search of the area.

At this point, there is no evidence to suggest foul play but the circumstances regarding her disappearance are uncharacteristic for her and described by her family as suspicious. The Sheriff's Office is requesting anyone with information that would assist in locating Dianne Thacher to call the Sheriff's Office at 805-683-2724 or to leave an anonymous tip call 805-681-4171.

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