Name: Fang Jin (Chinese: 金芳)
Age: 47 years old
Last seen: July 21, 2023
Location: Morongo Valley, California
Status: Found deceased on October 28, 2023
Case Information
47-year-old Fang Jin was last seen in Morongo Valley, California on July 21, 2023. She disappeared while on a tour of the Morongo Basin Area with a man she met online.
Background
Fang Jin is a Chinese citizen who lives in Guangdong, China.
In 2023, Jin began corresponding online with 52-year-old John Root Fitzpatrick from Morongo Valley, California, who offered to take her on a tour of the Morongo Basin area.
Disappearance
On July 14, 2023, Fang Jin flew from China to Los Angeles, California to meet John Root Fitzpatrick after six months of correspondence online. She spent a night at Freehand Hotel in downtown Los Angeles before taking a train to Palm Springs the next day.
Prior to her trip, Jin ordered a background report into Fitzpatrick to verify the man’s identity, military service, and employment record. She agreed to stay in touch with a friend every other day during her stay.
On July 15, 2023, Jin was picked up by Fitzpatrick at a bus stop near Agua Caliente Casino in Palm Springs, and the pair stayed the night at his trailer home in Morongo Valley.
Over the next five days, Jin and Fitzpatrick visited Joshua Tree National Park, hiking and camping in the area. Jin stayed in contact with family and friends during this time by cell phone and social media.
On July 21, 2023, Jin was last heard from during a phone call with her friend, saying that she was back from Joshua Tree National Park and was about to go camping again in “a small town in the desert” in the Morongo Basin Area.
Fang Jin stopped contacting her friends and family after that day and has never been heard from again.
On July 26, 2023, her friend filed a missing person’s report with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department when she couldn’t get in contact with her.
Investigation
Jin’s daughter has stated that her mother had booked a return flight in October, and that she was not intending to stay in the United States.
Jin’s bank account has had no activity since July 21st and her cell phone stopped being in service on July 25th.
On July 22, 2023, Fitzpatrick’s vehicle, a blue Toyota Tacoma truck with the California license #24478S1, was captured on camera in Thermal, California. His cell phone last pinged to a cell tower in Julian on July 27th.
On July 30, 2023, John Root Fitzpatrick was subsequently reported missing by a friend to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department.
John Root Fitzpatrick
52-year-old John Root Fitzpatrick is described as a white male, approximately 5’8″ tall and weighing 185 pounds. He has black hair and hazel eyes.
In December 2020, the U.S military veteran pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and was placed in the veterans treatment court, a program that offers alternatives to case proceedings for military veterans with underlying problems.
Body of John Fitzpatrick Found
On October 11, 2023, The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department confirmed that John Fitzpatrick’s body was found in September.
His body was found in Harper Canyon, located in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, south of State Route 78. His truck was parked nearby.
No further details have been released. Fang Jin remains missing.
More Remains Found in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Another set of human remains was found in the Anza-Borrego desert on October 28, 2023. It is believed they belong to Jin, though positive identification has not been made.
Update: The remains were positively identified as belonging to Fang Jin.
Appearance
Physical Description:
Asian female with black hair and black eyes. Fang is 5’4 tall and weighs 110 pounds.
Distinctive Physical Features:
No information available.
Clothing and accessories:
No information available.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Fang Jin please contact the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department Morongo Basin Station at (760) 366-4175. Agency Case Number: 092301014
Resources & Further Information
Fang Jin #MP106467 – National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Fang Jin – Missing Persons Center
Jin Fang Missing in Morongo Valley Area – Go Fund Me
News & Media Links
Woman disappears on trip to Morongo Basin – Hi-Desert Star 08/2023
Sheriff confirms missing woman hired missing Morongo Valley man as guide – Hi-Desert Star 08/2023
Woman who flew in from China now missing after trip to Morongo Basin area – Victorville Daily Press 08/2023
Authorities confirm link in two missing person cases in Morongo Basin – KESQ 08/2023
Videos & Flyers
Another inept police force. Two people missing..One with a daughter and their missing voluntarily.
Don’t believe it.
Why after a short time , and also on – line , that everybody knows is a dangerous means of communication , if one does not know enough about the person that they are communicating with , especially between two countries ? .
Maybe , given the small age difference between them that she was gullible enough to believe that his intentions honorable ? .
Was she aware of his medical background , and if he had any family ? .
Who took the photo of them in the vehicle ? .
Are the two missing cases of them been handled as one case ? .
When they returned and went camping a second time , did they go alone again , if you do not know the place that you are going to , and in a remote place such as a desert , and you have just come back from a camping trip , why go again , do something different ? .
How old is her daughter ? .
Why not invite her friend that she was communicating with to go with her , was her friend in China ? .
If not , where does she stay? .
Has any contact been made with her family in China ? .
Extremely suspicious circumstances all round .
John Fitzpatrick found dead last month in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/story/2023-10-11/missing-san-bernardino-man-found-dead-anza-borrego-fitzpatrick