A 21-year-old British woman has vanished under mysterious circumstances during a solo holiday to California, sparking an urgent international search. Katherine Esther Gamboa Kerwood disappeared after travelling alone from London for a week-long sightseeing trip across the Golden State.
Airport Meeting Captured on CCTV
Her father has revealed to local media that the last known sighting of Kerwood was on airport security footage, which showed her meeting a man carrying flowers who greeted her upon arrival. The man is believed to be named David, whom she had previously met in the UK, according to family statements.
Family Expresses Deep Concern
Kerwood's family say they have not heard from her since Friday and emphasise that it is entirely out of character for her to go silent. 'She's generally very responsive and the fact that she didn't message for hours is the first signal,' family friend Ali Zaidi told KTVU on Sunday. 'Second, when she messaged they said, "Hey, let's get on the phone," and immediately she didn't respond.'
Discrepancy in Itinerary
Kerwood arrived in California on March 31, with plans to visit Sacramento, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz. A text message she sent that same day claimed she was at a hostel in Sacramento, but investigations confirm she never actually checked in there.
Police Launch Coordinated Investigation
The disappearance has been formally reported to police authorities in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Officers in California have entered her details into a statewide database to alert all law enforcement agencies. Local authorities are understood to be actively working to trace Kerwood’s movements after she left the airport, including reviewing further CCTV footage and analysing phone data.
Appeal for Public Assistance
Her family have made a heartfelt public appeal for information and are urging anyone who may have seen her or has knowledge of her whereabouts to contact the police immediately. Kerwood, who is believed to be from Clanfield, Hampshire, had been scheduled to fly back to London on Wednesday, heightening concerns over her safety and wellbeing.
