The Antelope Valley Times

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Help distraught family members find Michelle Russ

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Michelle Russ
Michelle Russ

QUARTZ HILL — Distraught family members are asking for your help in locating a 26-year-old Quartz Hill woman who vanished without a trace late last week.

Michelle Russ was last seen by family members around 11:30 p.m. on May 9 in the Quartz Hill home she shared with her father and young son, near 50th Street West and Avenue M, according to her sister Christine Russ.

Michelle had been depressed earlier in the day, but by nighttime, she appeared to be fine, Christine Russ said.

“She told my brother-in-law that she was going to meet up with some people that she had met earlier in the day, and he said, ‘no, don’t go do that,’ and then when he called a little bit later, she was still home,” Christine Russ said. “So I don’t know if she ever left the house, we don’t know what happened.”

Some time that night, Michelle tucked her son into bed and then disappeared, her sister said.

“When my dad woke up in the morning, she was gone,” Christine Russ said. “She never showed back up, she never called, nothing.”

Family members have searched extensively for Michelle since her disappearance. They’re now offering a $500 reward for information leading to her whereabouts.

“Her son misses her really bad, he’s crying every night,” Christine Russ said. “The last time he’s seen her is when she put him in bed. Her family is missing her and we want her back.”

Michelle Russ is a 26-year-old White female with blue eyes and blond hair, who is approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs around 125 pounds. She was last seen wearing black pants and a dark shirt (either purple or blue). Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Michelle Russ is urged to contact Christine Russ at 661-902-9598 or the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station at 661-948-8466.

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Filed Under: Lancaster

106 comments for "Help distraught family members find Michelle Russ"

  1. God Bless Christine Russ, protect her, guide her, love her, where ever she is may God never leave her side and hopefully she will come home soon. I pray that her son lives happy and has happiness in his life and dreams.

  2. Michelle has been on my mind a lot lately. I saw her at SA recycling a while back. With a woman on her 30s or early 40s. I pray she is safe, and in good health.

    • I keep coming back to check, to see if she was found.. It looks like they forgot she’s missing.i hope she is fine and comes home soon to her kids.

      • I agree kizzy it does look like shes forgotten about….I keep comming back to see if she was found also. I keep her and her kids in my prayers. Her family doesnt answer anyone back that wants to help. Maybe they know something the police dont know. or maybe their being checked out. Its really wierd that they never mentioned anything about her sell phone. I hope shes found.

        • I’m confused, you saw her at a recycling center and never talked to her? Never asked if she was ok? I don’t think she is missing, she just doesn’t want to be with family.

          • I have not seen Michelle since she has been missing. This was before May 9,2013. Not sure exactly how long before. I’m real bad with time. If I had to guess I would say about a month or so. I only mentioned it because it struck me odd to physically see someone who one day ended up on MISSING PERSONS OF AMERICA.

        • She has not been found I stopped posting things on this site because of all the negativity. Michelle is missing and her family are more than worried. This is a sad situation. We do not have any idea if those who say they have seen her are telling the truth. No one seems to call out her name or take pictures with cell phones. She is NOT ok. Please keep looking for her. She would not want to be away from her family. Anyone who thinks that does not know her.

        • Well I strongly disagree with both of you MY TWIN SISTER has not been forgotten about. I spend every waking moment looking for my sister. The only time I am not looking for her is when I am at work making money to look for her or to buy more flyers to put up of her, but thank you for being concerned.

          • Christine,
            We would love to post missing posters in our East Palmdale building. You can email me one to *Dlatanzi@roadrunner.com* or drop off to 2101 E. Palmdale Blvd. We have several hundred people a week through our facility, and we would like to help in your efforts to find your sister.
            Please don’t take anything the negative people have to say to heart. No one knows what you are going through, but lots of us are praying for you and praying for your sisters safe return to your family.

        • she has not been forgotten how could you sat something like that just evil. and she has a son read it write before you have something to say. and her family does answer back for help. get yo life right. why dont you go to the familt house and ask question before running off at the mouth

      • I live on the next block and want the family to know that we are concerned about Michelle whereabouts as well. With the family permission, I would like to submit her name and family on Living Praise Christian Center prayer conf. list. And my family would like to make Christmas for Michelle’s child.

      • It was before she was missing that I believe to have seen her at sea recycling. I realize that it won’t help you at all with solving this. I only mentioned it because when I saw Michelles picture along with reading article, I remembered seeing this person. The reason I remember seeing her is because she reminds me very much of someone else I still see from time to time. I would’ve responded to your question sooner, but for some reason I thought I was the last one to post a comment. I guess because my comment was at the top of the page right after I posted it. So I assumed the order was most recent first. Every time I check this page I see my comment is still first. So wrongly I assumed no one has posted more recently.

  3. I still keep checking back on this, and praying for her safe return. If there is any updates I hope they will get posted here?

    • they will be posted wish someone would say something they don’t need to say who they are just tell her family where she is.. If she is no longer in this world let them have closure

      • i wish the truth would be told. its really strange that the family doesnt say one word about her cell phone, she did have one. who were the last people she talked to from her phone? who were the last calls that came in or out from her cell phone? What were the area codes? What company was she with? Is her phone disconnected?? Why is her phone disconnected?? Is anyone concerned who she talked to last??…Not one word has been mentioned about her cell phone Why?? Her family seems to not have known any friends of hers?? strange….Whos the person with the information about some police report?
        where did that info come from?? Those parts right there just are not making no sense. If you want the publics help…..Then tell the public some information that makes more sense than what i have just mentioned. ….It just doesnt add up sorry……

        • The cell phone records have already been reviewed and people checked out there are a few suspects but the family has not been able to get enough proof for the authorities to follow up on.
          Information that has been received has been to mislead the family. People are being watched. YOu think it doesnt make sense how do you think the family feels.

        • yes she did have a cell phone, it has been dead or turned off since she has been missing. I call it all the time, and by the way I bought minutes for her cell phone just in case she did have It with her. I was wondering if you know her personally and how do you know she had a cell phone?????

          • i been knowing her for a couple of years so quit talking [removed] about her and her family if you cant say noyhing nice than shut the [removed] up. she is missing that’s all and that’s it ignorant people in this world. just hope it does not happen to you

  4. I had not heard about this young lady at all. I seldom miss our TV news, so wonder if it had been reported at all. Is there a missing persons website/list for the valley?
    If Michelle has not been receiving the coverage her family think necessary, maybe they should contact Nancy Grace.
    Moenna

      • Not true. Nancy have helped more adult white women than any other race. Check it out or ask someone that watches her show on a regular basis. Check it out!!!!!

    • Her flyers have been all over the place at different stores around the East side. I guess the exposure is growing. Since it is on this site, its probably gonna be on the twc local news.
      And Jripper, some people would take advantage of any situation to bring attention to the nonsense that goes on inside their heads. Please don’t ‘jrip'(drip) your ignorance on this family’s tragedy.

      • i hear what you are saying if the family needs the public to help. then they need to check it all out, All the way around. I understand she had a child wheres the father whats he doin?????I havent read one word on him. Did no one know who she socialized with ????? Most family members have a red cross alert I.D. bracelet. to the family how long did her and her family live in this neighborhood ????? Were the local business stores notified a head of time. so if this were to ever happen they new where to call and where she lived. The poster says she was easy influenced. I just dont understand something is just not adding up. Does not seen to me that any member of the family has went above and beyond to locate her. nor are they pleading for help. sorry its jus my personnal opinion. . Im sure she recieved ssi. all special needs do. her son had a father. and she had a family. and all they can offer is $500.00…..she alson lived with her father. so she probably didnt pay much for rent or bills i dont know……………its sure something to think about. good luck and the truth will set you free. Michelle you and your family are in my prayers.

  6. I WOULD CHECK OUT EVERYONE THAT IS AROUND THE FAMILY, BC THEY MIGHT BE GETTING INFO FROM THEM TO PASS ONTO WHO EVER HAS MICHELLE. THEY SAY THAT THE PERSON OR PEOPLE USUALLY INVOLVED IN STUFF LIKE THIS IS SOMEONE CLOSE TO THE FAMILY. MAYBE A CLOSE FRIEND OF FAMILY MEMEBER IS ALL OF A SUDDEN REALLY CLOSE TO OTHERS IN THE FAMILY TO SEE WHAT THE FAMILY IS THINKING. MAYBE A BF OR SOMEONE LYIED TO MICHELLE ABOUT SOMETHING TO MAKE HER THINK SHE CAN’T COME HOME, OR SOMEONE IS OUT TO GET HER? MY HEART GO’S OUT TO MICHELLE AND I PRAY FOR HER PROTECTION, AND SAFE RETURN HOME!!

    • I agree I believe someone Knows something and is deceiving the family. I am very worried about Michelle.

  8. 2300 People go missing each day…. Most are not kidnappings or murders…Because of the shear volume of people who go missing, law enforcement cant do much…Her family is doing the right thing by looking for her but it is implausible to think Cops would spend their time looking for her without specific information that lends credence to signs of foul play…

    • This is true and its hard when you don’t have proof but just know Foul play is at hand. Of course family and friends wish more can be done. We understand the situation the detectives are in. However, we believe the cops should take this more seriously as it has been a month.

  9. I went to High School with Michelle and remember her as a shy and timid girl but nice. It’s upsetting that the police aren’t doing all they can to find her. Somone must have seen something. I’m going to contact various news outlets with this and hopefully they will give this story the attention it deserves.

  10. Update? There is no way this story was passed on to KTLA or even Fox news, they pick up even small stories. Someone on here said she is disabled, do you mean mentally, physically or does she have an actual mental illness? The news would pick up story, I have emailed a story before to KTLA and ABC. It was on ABC within hours and it was a stupid political, local story…This story is way more. Something is fishy. I emailed AV Times to ser if they had any update, they didnt even reply to me.

    • Its hard to get “missing” people stories on the news. Unless they suspect foul play its nearly impossible! My niece was missing for a few weeks in November and we got NO help from anyone! Thank God we finally found her, she had run away!

  11. I seen her one time take the number 6 bus going to Littlerock, but this was a few weeks before she went missing. Did you check in Littlerock?

  12. I just seen this poster today and wanted to know if shes been found this saddens me deeply I went to high school with michelle and now are kids go to school together I see her everyday walking her son if she is still missing I want to post this t all my social media sites…. my prayers are with her and her family

  13. I came almost a week ago to this site. Still have not heard or seen a thing about her. Where is an updated photo people are looking for? Is she back home? Has she gone away before? I do not understand the limited information. Doesnt seem right. Go on facebook and find the lost and missing page. They will post her on there. Once again is there something to hide?

    • My guess is that she’s either returned home after her drug binge…or she’s let her family know she’s “staying with friends” and still getting high.

      People can blast LASO all they want but if they find that this woman voluntarily left, there’s no crime and not much to tell the family.

      • im starting to guess the same thing i know that if this was my family member i would be on here every day as much as i could!! crazy crazy they have all these concerned people n no one is saying anything

        • everyone is doing what they can and she is NOT on drugs she is disabled. Everyone who knows her can tell you that. We do not respond to Shane’s craziness. Please don’t believe him. He still lives with his mother and she pays his cell phone bill

      • Shane, I just don’t understand your relentless effort in trying to discourage people to look for her. I find it almost suspicious that you come on here every day not to find out information, but to continually slander Michelle and discourage people from doing what they can to help. It’s obvious you have something against her personally and wish to continually attack her. I just would like to know why?

    • Nobody has seen Michelle yet. Her family is doing everything they can to find her. The police officers don’t do much, so they hired their own PI. They do check on here every day, but unless there is someone on here saying they have seen her, they don’t generally reply. They don’t have time to respond to comments as they are out looking for her every day.

  14. okay so….I live in palmdale and I only heard about this because im always looking at the news but i have yet to see a poster or anything regarding her any where out here…. and they need a recent picture of her so if anyone were to think they have seen her would know if its actually her. i had to stop and turn arround a couple of times just to see if it was her but i couldnt really tell if it was because this pic is different from the posters in lancaster

    • That’s what I think, doesn’t she look like a totally different girl in the flyer?

      • yes is crazy because i was driving down palmdale blvd n i seen this girl who was walking with no shoes on n i stoppped n looked and it wasnt her but whos to know because the pics r soooo diffent

  15. Our family is in Quartz Hill and we are also connected with Michelle by 6 degrees. We are deeply saddened for her family and pray for dear Michelle’s return. LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT PLEASE AND THANK YOU FOR KEEPING UP THE CONTINUOUS SEARCH FOR OUR DEAR SISTER MICHELLE RUSS!!!!!!!!!!

    • Six degrees of separation is the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world, so that a chain of “a friend of a friend” statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. It was originally set out by Frigyes Karinthy and popularized by a play written by John Guare.

  16. I just dont understand this story at all if shes still missing why is this not being put all over media as they do other stories? I dont get it seems a lil weird i must say.I think the family needs to push media more and the police station time could be very sensitive in this situation yet it dont seem that way… Has she been found why is there no follow ups or updates?

    • Yeah, I don’t get it either, I seen the picture in the flyer, but why does it look like a totally different girl? Someone please look at the flyer and tell me what you think. We need to see the most recent picture of this girl.

  17. I hate to be negative but exploitation of women and children is on the rise in the AV! start looking in to that….

  18. Will share this information on Facebook, as I know lots of people in AV. Based on the comments of everyone who knew her, she is a sweet natured mom with a few disabilities. But, even if she wasn’t and even if she was on drugs– does that mean she still doesn’t deserve help or compassion? Does that mean she doesn’t deserve the time, effort and energy put into finding her? Does it mean she still couldn’t be kidnapped, hurt or taken against her will? Wow. Prayers for Michelle, her loved ones, her sweet little boy and her safe return.

    • Saddened beyond belief. I remember seeing this young lady around–her eyes and smile made her stand out and she is the sweetest person. HURTS like everything to have to keep checking this ONE newsbrief to see if she has been found…can’t imagine the pain of her family and her son..just know my prayers are constant

  19. I forgot…..I live in Santa Clarita, next city over. I have heard nothing about this woman or seen anything, anywhere. Not on tv, nothing. This page came up in search results on google as I looked for another story. Email all the news sites with her info and flyer. Unless there is something to hide? Or was it already on? Usually when one picks up a story, the other stations follow. Contact that Rex(?) Parris guy, Ive seen him on tv, he loves media. Crazy but do whatever to get media attn

  21. If there is some way to help, please post it here. If people are needed to hang posters, etc. I think there are other people interested in helping find her. It seems like it needs to be put out there more. Do they think she left willingly and is not lost? She sounds like a vulnerable person.

  22. My son goes to the same school as her son and I only just heard about this on Thursday. I was horrified to hear this news. Michelle is a sweet, very good-hearted person and I never saw her acting like she was on anything. She walked her son every single day to school on time and picked him up every day on time. When our boys were in kindergarten I heard her ask for a ride on a horribly rainy day and since that person couldn’t give her a ride, I told her they could get a ride with us. Ever since, when we’d see each other I’d give them a ride home with us and she was always so kind to me! I KNOW she would not leave her son. She’s a good mom and she needs to be found and helped. I understood from Michelle that she has Cerebral Palsy and I know with her physical attributes that she may not be able to fight somebody off. Please help put up posters because I haven’t seen any anywhere and that is so troubling. Now that I found this article I’m going to be putting up her picture all over so someone can be good enough to come forward with some information.
    I am praying for her every day that she will be found and she will be ok.

  23. Wow it seems to me like the sheriffs out here dont care this is crazy come on now people start calling people or start a search

    • I’m sure the sheriffs are not going to tell everyone what there doing. But at the same time I do understand how you might think that.

  26. I seen a flyer of her today, and I have to say that the picture of her on here and the one I seen look like 2 different girls.
    Which one is the most recent?

  27. Unrelated to this disappearance, but didn’t a young woman from Santa Clarita disappear in a similar manner a few months ago?

    What ever happened with that one?

  28. Has anyone heard anything yet? I send the story to.multiple news sources I really hope this helps…

  29. Come on people! This is not the time to be talking about what she may have done or is doing. I have known Michelle and the whole family for about 13 years. We need to stay focus on finding Michelle not if shes doing drugs. The point is she is missing and this is so out of character for her. She has a son who needs his mom regardless of what you may think of her. She has siblings who care. So stop all the negative crap and lets turn this into something positive by continuing to look for here and keep posting her picture, asking any and everybody we come in contact with. Share with co-workers, church friends, school friends etc.
    Father God, You know where Michelle is and we are praying to you to bring her home to her family or at least keep her safe from any harm until we can find her. Lord please guide us to her. In your holy sons name. Amen

  30. I don’t know her personally but my sister is her neighbor. I think everyone should get involved this could be our family member that is missing. I called all the news stations today and let them know that Michelle has been missing since May 9th and they had no idea about this story. I would of had no idea she was missing if it wasn’t for my sister calling and telling me. I don’t have Time Warner I have AT&T u verse. And I never saw a story about Michelle on any of the News Station I get. So I hope that they pick it up to get her story out. My prayers go out to her son and her family. God bless you all.

  31. I read that she left with some people she met earlier in the day. I know someone that never did drugs and had everything going for them, and was the best person too, and I was watching stuff happening to this person, and trying to tell them don’t go around those people, because I felt something wasn’t right. These people were acting like there friend giving them things, taking them out to dinner,…etc. I’m telling you from an experience, and I don’t know what the people are like that Michelle met, but I bet she thought they were nice and she must have trusted them or they were asking her for help and she thought she was trying to help them. We don’t know, but anything is possible. I’m concerned too. I’m just trying to help by giving you some info. Please forgive me I’m not trying to say anything about Michelle doing drugs or that she is a bad person. Find out who she was hanging around and where these people hung out, and maybe start trying to fit in and hang out too, for her sake and maybe you can find her that way? I pray that you find her.

    • It appears that family members told the police where and who Michelle had been talking to. The police have not shown a proper level of interest in the disappearance of Michelle nor have they questioned the people named by family members. It is very scary to think that most likely something really terrible has happened to her and the police are not seizing the moment! You always see in the programs and news on TV how things would have been better had the police spent time caring in the beginning! Do they NOT HAVE RESOURCES one officer had stated to a family member! Michelle MATTERS to a lot of people!

      • lets not all forget about the three girls they found recently that had been kept for a decade. One was over 21 the police didn’t look for her either.

  32. just as a fyi she has seizures, among other disorders and would die if she did meth, she doesn’t touch it, also she is a stay at home mom, and rarely is out and about, besides the point she has never just disappeared that’s why her family was upset when they woke up seeing she wasn’t home that very morning they were out looking for her. Also she did not have her seizure or other medicines she needs to live. as far as that nasty looking drug attic due to her loving nature and disabilities she is easy manipulated and the fact she knows druggies is due to the area and her income bracket. Please stop with the drug related remarks, she has lots of people that care for her, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer person.

  33. Put up poster’s, there has to be someone that seen her, that will open up there mouth and let someone know. Put her poster around low income apartments. They could be using someone’s place to manipulate her. I know of someone who they would give them meth constantly to keep them under there control, and then say and do things to try and scare and manipulate there mind. Its no joke! I would suggest going around people she knew and find out where they go to hang out. Beware they will act like your friend and lead you somewhere to eat or buy you stuff at the mall, while they may be trying to set you up to get taken by a human trafficker. I believe offer a lot of money to get one of these guys on the street to quote set up a date or something. Please be careful who you hang out with people!! If it sounds to good to be true it probably is. Also, if there giving you free drugs, its for a reason, there trying to get you under there control, because once your on that drug they will keep sticking it in your mouth to keep you confused and under there control. I know there is all kinds of people reading this, and possible one that knows exactly what I am talking about. CALL CRIME STOPPERS OR 911 if you think this is happening at an apartment that you’ve been to. I even believe that some of these apartment manager’s know stuff is going on, but they either get a cut or they don’t say anything. Also, I think they need to put more camera’s in these apartments that don’t have any.

  34. Wow … I will keep praying for Michelle to be found safe. This hurts my heart. If there is any type of search party, etc please let us know on here..me and my family are more than willing to help.I saw she goes in my familys dairy daily. My uncle seems to be very fond of her. Please keep us updated.

    • we are working on it, just not on the public side, flyers are going to be sent to post offices soon. But we are looking for help so anybody who would like to help the flyer should be done today you can email me @ ceo@enoxxdesign.com for a pdf if anybody is willing to print and post more flyers its much appreciated. also any ideas are welcome.

      • Kindly follow the Law in regards to posting bills on public and private property. I know this is a difficult time for everyone involved, but that doesn’t mean we need to litter the community with paper posters from the wind ripping them off and sending them all to Littlerock and Lake LA. Besides a social media shout out (which we have all participated in) is much more effective and environmentally friendly.

        • There are many designated areas in all communities to put up flyers. I am positive anyone helping will use their best efforts not to litter the area. It wouldnt be helpful any ways. There are many buisnesses that have a place for these types of flyers.

  37. I certainly hope that it is not the case in this situation, but some of the factors of this story insinuate human trafficking. There is a shift in newly establishing gangs in the AV seeking to use human trafficking rather than drugs because it is a product that can be used multiple times rather than the single sale of drugs. It is sad to say but there will be daughters and sons lost in the AV to this heinous crime.The local sheriff’s department is aware of the problem and is attempting to work on it. But unfortunately for everyone they find, somewhere else one starts.

  38. Article states…’friends she met earlier in that day’…any idea who these ‘friends’ are?? Any names?

  39. My son and Michelle son went to preschool together we would talk waiting for the kids to get out she was always very nice. I pray she will return home safe soon.

  40. What is the situation here? Did she leave on her own? Any sign if a struggle? Break in? Did she have plans togo out? Something seems wierd here.

    • This is out of the ordinary for her. She is a very trusting person and kind person. She would not do this to her family. Something is NOT right !!!. She may be stranded someplace where she cant get in touch with her family. She may be being held against her will I do not know. No one Knows we just all want her back.

  41. I’ve know the family including Michelle for years i really hope they find her safe and sound… Has there been any news yet??

  42. Michelle is my cousin im praying for her that she comes home soon and that she is safe

    • Michele grew up with my girls I have known her and her family since she was six. She has a very special place in my heart. I just want to hear that she is home and safe.

  43. I went to High School with her…and she looked just like this in high school. Its called genetics…don’t assume things that you know nothing about. I don’t know her, other than we attended the same high school but you cannot judge a person for how they look. She is a mother. I hope she is returned home safely…from where ever she is….and she is beautiful.