BONNY DOON - A pickup belonging to a Los Angeles man missing for more than a week was found burning just off Empire Grade Road late Tuesday, but authorities have not located Elias Sorokin.
Friends last heard from Sorokin, 29, on July 20, when they think he was driving from Oakland to Santa Cruz to meet an acquaintance. His plans were to return to L.A. the following morning, friends have said.
Two days later, a couple tried to use his credit card at the Target store in Watsonville and, on Friday, a woman tried to cash a $4,500 check from Sorokin's business at a Santa Cruz bank.
That was the same day his father, Nick Sorokin of L.A., filed a missing person report with Oakland police. The case was transferred to the Los Angeles Police Department. Santa Cruz and Watsonville police, along with the Sheriff's Office, are now involved in the investigation.
"At this point, we still have a missing person and we don't know what Mr. Sorokin's status is right now and we're all working together to figure out how we can be the best resource possible for Los Angles, which is still the agency with jurisdiction," Santa Cruz police Capt. Steve Clark said. "We've kind of formed a mini-task force here around this to pool our resources and our information."
Police said they are also looking into several possibilities including the angle Sorokin may have been involved in the marijuana trade and that may have contributed to his disappearance.
But, so far, the clues are sparse.
Someone called 911 to report a fire on a dirt road about a mile from Smith Grade on State Parks property at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday.
Sorokin's truck was fully involved when firefighters arrived and the flames were slowly spreading into the brush, according to Cal Fire.
Initially, Cal Fire sent a full wildland response - including bulldozers and fire crews from Felton, Bonny Doon, Soquel and Big Creek - to the fire because of the pickup's location, but the response was reduced to three fire trucks when firefighters realized it was a vehicle fire.
Sheriff's deputies were also sent to the scene because "cars just don't usually start on fire," Sheriff's Office Sgt. Greg Lansdowne. "It's strange that somebody's truck gets burned."
No one was around and deputies found no sign of Sorokin.
The pickup was identified as Sorokin's through the vehicle ID number and the Sheriff's Office hauled it away on a flatbed. Crime scene investigators are searching the vehicle for evidence, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Law enforcement say it's unclear how the truck caught fire or how long the truck had been parked in that location before it burned.
Investigators are calling the fire suspicious, but have not gone so far to say they believe foul play is involved in Sorokin's disappearance.
"We're trying to figure out where do all these pieces fit together, what do we have?" Clark said.
Sorokin's relatives and friends have said it's out of character for him to stop contacting them and miss events, such as business meetings for his clothing company, Kucoon. They fear he was carjacked, kidnapped or fell into some other dangerous situation.
This week, friends announced a $20,000 no-questions-asked reward for information leading to Sorokin's safe return. They also are searching areas around Santa Cruz County with tracking dogs and posted fliers with information about Sorokin, whom they describe as a loving and respectful person.
"I'm still hopeful," his mother, Anna Oleynik, of North Carolina said.
Online communities have sprouted up on Facebook and blogs, where people share information and take part in the search for Sorokin. There are prayer circles for Sorokin and, on Monday, a vigil was held in L.A.
Sorokin is 5 feet 9 inches tall, 150 pounds with brown hair. His friends asked that anyone with information about Sorokin's disappearance e-mail them at
[email protected]. Investigators ask people contact the Sheriff's Office at 471-1121.
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