California Mother Who Went Missing On Pandemic Road Trip Found Dead In Desert

A 37-year-old California mother who went missing after she set out on a "pandemic road trip," has been found dead in a desert.

Erika Lloyd of Walnut Creek vanished two days after she started a 500-mile road trip to Joshua Tree National Park in June.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said the skeletal remains found on Jan. 31 in a desert field in Wonder Valley, a remote part of the county north of Joshua Tree National Park, belonged to Erika, the New York Post reported.

Her brother, Colin Lloyd, took to Facebook to confirm the news of her death.

“Close to 8 months have passed since Erika disappeared and we have been blessed by countless efforts of selflessness and compassion on part of the community and our family. Right now is the time for grieving and I encourage everyone to pause and reflect on the beautiful soul we’ve lost: our Erika,” the post read.

It was on June 14 that Erika, mother to a 12-year-old son, set out on the trip. Her relatives lost contact with her after two days, said a report.

However, on the same day, the California Highway Patrol found Erika's 2006 black Honda Accord abandoned near Highway 62 at Twentynine Palms. The car had several of its windows broken and dashboard damaged but police suspected no foul play.

According to her relatives, Erika was battling a pandemic-induced financial crisis when she decided to go on the trip.

"She seemed like she was fine," Erika's mother, Ruth Lloyd, said.

"Being in lockdown for almost three months, not being able to work and she was trying to home-school her son. It was starting to get to her, the pressure and not having any income."

“We don’t know if she had some memory loss when she got hit by the airbag,” Ruth said.

“Maybe she doesn’t know who she is, we don’t know. We aren’t sure about her mental state.”

To aid in her search, Erika's family hired Doug Billings, a local cave and mine expert. He used a special map program to retrace her footsteps besides hiking up and down the washes and canyons but in vain.

Authorities are yet to release details regarding the woman's death.