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A San Bernardino woman who had been missing for 10 days has been found, though she seems to have reappeared as mysteriously as she disappeared. Sahray Barber, a 22-year-old graphic design student at the Art Institute, contacted her father, Stephen Barber, Thursday night to tell him she was okay after seeing a report about herself on the news, according to CBS LA. Police say that Barber had voluntarily spent the last several days at a shelter in Los Angeles. Investigators may also decide to pursue criminal action against two persons of interest interviewed in the case who may have provided false information.
Lt. Rich Lawhead of the San Bernardino Police Department said that Barber had "decided to go missing" to deal with some personal issues, but that investigators aren't sure what exactly her "involvement is in the whole thing," San Jose Mercury News reports. He also said that she explained why she left her laptop and cell phone—both of which were found placed in a bush on the grounds of her apartment building—but that he could not share that explanation. This case "kinda tops the chart right now for kinda strange, especially because of the direction we were led in initially," he said.
Barber had been missing since March 9. She was last seen leaving her apartment near Cal State San Bernardino for her job at the Art Institute's library. Her roommates reported her missing when she did not come home. Though her phone and computer were found on the grounds of the apartment complex, there didn't appear to be any signs of a struggle. There was some concern that her disappearance was related to two recent assaults on female CSUSB students.
At one point, investigators searched a ranch in the Little Mountain area of San Bernardino in response to a tip. Thousands of dollars were spent in resources and overtime looking for her over the last 10 days.
Barber's father, who had previously made an appeal for her safe return on TV, released a statement thanking everyone for their support and "that you respect our privacy and you allow law enforcement to continue their investigation unhindered."
Krystie Stuart, a 29-year-old Lucerne Valley woman who vanished on her way to an appointment on March 3 is still missing. Her white truck was found abandoned in the desert north of Apple Valley. Investigators say Stuart is "voluntarily missing," but may not be taking medication she needs.
