Sydney was last seen on Sept. 30, 2020 at approximately 6:45 a.m. PT on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA.
Sydney was wearing long dark leggings, a teal hoodie sweatshirt and Vans slip on sneakers with a blue/green tropical print. Her hair was in a bun on the top of her head. She may have been carrying a black backpack.
She was reported missing to the Orange County, North Carolina police on Oct. 1, 2020.
Sydney is very close with her family and speaks with them regularly. She had a lengthy phone conversation with her dad the evening of Sept. 29 and he fully expected to speak with her the next day. When he was unable to reach her after multiple attempts he became worried and the family contacted the authorities.
Sydney's permanent residence is North Carolina, where her family lives, and therefore the report had to be initiated there. The North Carolina report was was immediately transmitted to the authorities in San Francisco and a report was then filed there as well.
She was there to attend her first year at UC Berkeley.
Sydney had suffered a concussion over the summer of 2020 and was still recovering when she left for school. When she arrived at Berkeley, all of her classes were being conducted virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This proved challenging for Sydney and she made the decision to defer until Fall 2021 so she could fully recover.
Sydney stayed with family friends in the Bay Area of California after leaving Berkeley.
Sydney enjoys that area and would often go their to take pictures, take in the view, or to go for a walk/run.
She used a ride share service. The driver was interviewed by SFPD, has been fully cooperative and helpful and is not a suspect.
No. There has been no activity on any of her accounts (phone, bank, credit card, social media, etc.) since the morning of Sept. 30, 2020.
Her parents took steps to make all of Sydney's social media accounts private following her disappearance in order to protect her privacy.
No. Sydney was not in a relationship nor had she recently broken up with anyone.
Yes. All video footage from on and around the bridge on Sept. 30 has been carefully reviewed. Unfortunately, foggy conditions that morning obstructed many of the camera views making it impossible to tell her exact location on the bridge or how she may have exited the bridge. The nearby wildfires impacted air quality as well. We do know that the bridge was busy with walkers, joggers, cyclists, commuters who may have seen something.
No. There are several cameras on and around the bridge and for security reasons that footage can not be released to the public.
No, her phone has not been found/located.
Yes, it was found with her personal belongings in California.
Yes, her backpack was found in an area around the Golden Gate Bridge and was turned over to the SFPD as part of the investigation. It contained personal items and was later returned to her family.
Yes. There have been dozens of tips sent to the SFPD and private investigator Scott Dudek but none have led to finding Sydney yet.
Sydney's family is deeply appreciative of everyone who has reached out with offers to help. There are several ways the family has asked the public to help:
1) Share Sydney's story across your social media platforms
2) Print and post flyers around your cities and towns.
3) Share any information that you think may be help bring Sydney home with the family's private investigator Scott Dudek (925) 705-8328 or Dudek.associates@gmail.com
4) Consider making a donation to the Find Sydney West GoFundMe campaign.
There is currently a reward of $25,000 being offered for information leading to her location and return.
Contact private investigator Scott Dudek at (925) 705-8328 or Dudek.associates@gmail.com
Contact Amy Weiss at Weiss Public Affairs (202) 203-0448 or amy@weisspublicaffairs.com