Four days after a young backpacker was found dead in Golden Gate Park near the site of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, the San Francisco Police Department is seeking people who might have seen her in the hours before her slaying.
As previously reported, the body of 23-year-old Audrey Carey was found lying face-down in Golden Gate Park near Chain of Lakes and John F. Kennedy Drives on Saturday morning at around 9:15.
Carey had suffered "blunt force trauma" to her head and "was declared deceased by paramedics," SFPD spokesperson Officer Albie Esparza says. Her death has since been ruled a homicide by the San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office, and as of this morning is San Francisco's 37th homicide for 2015, Officer Grace Gatpandan says.
ABC7 reports that Carey, who is from a small town outside Montreal, Quebec, was on a solo backpacking trip across California, even taking "a break from law school" for the month-long tour. The Chron reports that she was also planning to travel to Europe.
“She wanted to travel. It was her first trip,” her great-uncle told the Chron.
Carey's family released a statement to media Tuesday, thanking them for their support and asking for privacy. Released in French, when translated, it reads:
The family of Audrey Carey, who tragically died last Saturday while traveling in the San Francisco area, would like to thank the people who have expressed sympathy and support in the ordeal they are going through.Audrey was a young girl full of life and loved by all. The family now wishes to grieve in privacy and in private, and asked representatives of the media to please respect their will. The family does not want to give interview at the moment and will make no further comment.
It's unclear how long Carey had been in San Francisco, or if she attended Friday night's performances at Hardly Strictly. That's why, Esparza says, SFPD is asking "anyone who may recognize her or may have come in contact with her" to contact police, and released the photo above to aid in the investigation.
If she looks familiar to you, or if you have any information on Carey's movements in SF before her death, Esparza asks that you contact SFPD anonymously at (415) 575-4444 or text-a-tip to TIP411 and begin the text with SFPD.
Previously: Three Possible Homicides Last Weekend Include 23-Year-Old Canadian Woman Found In Golden Gate Park