Mystery as body found near site where California nurse vanished 'unlikely' to be missing mom, cops say

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 03:29, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 03:32, 14 August 2026 A body discovered near the site where a California emergency room nurse disappeared is 'unlikely' to be that of the mom who went missing more than a month ago.  Human remains found at Palomar Mountain State Park by a volunteer search team on Wednesday are not believed to be those of Angelica Brophy, police said.  The body was discovered near the South Grade Road in Pauma Valley at around 4.30pm.  San Diego County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Juan Marquez told SFGate that there was 'likely no connection' between the body and Brophy's case. The sheriff said that their office was in contact with Brophy's family. It remains unclear how long the remains had been in the area. Police are yet to determine a cause of death as an investigation remains ongoing. The discovery comes after Brophy, 44, vanished when entering the park on July 6, leaving her distraught family desperate for answers.  The mother-of-two was reported missing after she didn't show up to work at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Marcos.  'We're both night shift nurses,' a friend and co-worker told Fox 5. 'I showed up for work Monday night, and she did not.' Human remains that were found at Palomar Mountain State Park by a volunteer search team on Wednesday aren't believed to belong to missing nurse Angelica Brophy, police said Angelica Brophy, 44, an emergency room nurse from Oceanside, was reported missing after she didn't show up to work at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in San Marcos on July 6 Lieutenant Juan Marquez told SFGate that there was 'likely no connection' between the body and Brophy's case 'I reached out to another one of the girls from our group, and she hadn't heard from her either. Then I found out that her husband was contacting the hospital to see if she had shown up for work, and that's kinda when the alarm was sounded,' she continued. Brophy was reported missing that same day at around 9.30pm to the Oceanside Police Department (OPD). Much of the search effort to find Brophy has focused on Palomar Mountain State Park, where her vehicle was found. Her relatives said she regularly hiked with them around the area.  A parking ticket placed her at the park around 50 minutes after she was last seen on security footage leaving the Harrah's Resort Southern California Casino at around 3.30pm on July 6.  After she didn't return home and failed to collect her daughter from camp, her husband called Brophy's brother and then the police.  Her family have since been plastering North County with missing person posters for Brophy in the hopes that somebody has seen her.  'We don't really know what we're supposed to do, and no one guides you,' her co-worker continued.  'So, at this point, we're sort of taking a grassroots effort to try and find other areas to search.' Her family have been plastering North County with missing person posters for Brophy in the hopes that somebody has seen her Much of the efforts to find Brophy have been concentrated on Palomar Mountain Skate Park, where her vehicle was found. Her relatives said she regularly hiked with them around the area  She was last seen wearing black leggings and a gray T-shirt, according to the poster.  'She loves life and we really just need her back,' her sister-in-law Lisa Fabregas told NBC San Diego. 'She is one of the most wonderful, thoughtful women that I know. She's a very good mom. She will do anything for her children.'  'She is funny and kooky, and will sing at the top of her lungs and will not have one note in tune, but she does not care,' she added.  Manny Fabregas, one of Brophy's five older brothers, said the family is desperately waiting on any information about her whereabouts.  'We're all in a state of limbo right now and it's hard to move on without any leads,' he told NBC News.  Another brother, Martin Fabregas, said he is trying hard not to let his mind wander into 'dark places.' 'It's a wait-and-see. We're trying to encourage everybody to stay positive, stay strong,' he told the outlet.  Ramon Fabregas, another of Brophy's brothers, told KGTV that many community members have been searching the park as well in hopes of finding her.  A parking ticket placed her at the park around 50 minutes after she was last seen on security footage leaving the Harrah's Resort Southern California Casino at around 3.30pm on July 6  Manny Fabregas, one of Brophy's five older brothers, said the family is desperately waiting on any information about her whereabouts 'We are out here with volunteers, with friends and family just doing our own search, and we are just going to keep on pushing until we find her,' he told the outlet.  'I'm very humbled to see the search and rescue team from the sheriff's department, Oceanside PD out here doing the same thing. And that just makes you feel better that we're going to, we're going to find her soon.'  Community members held a vigil in San Marcos on Wednesday evening, praying for Brophy's safe return, Fox 5 reported.  Miki Melendez, a friend of Brophy's, wrote on Facebook that she 'has the biggest heart, super caring and generous.' '[She] has the best smile, adventurous spirit, lover of music, sports, the outdoors and good food. Supportive friend and mom,' she added.  Carina Hofmann, another friend, wrote: 'This is my nursing school friend. We even got our first nursing job together on the same unit on night shift. We helped each other get through that first year and leaned on each other through some of our most difficult times. 'Angelica is truly a kind, loving person and an amazing nurse.' Anyone with information on Brophy’s whereabouts is asked to contact Oceanside Police Detective Ryan Malone at 760-435-4537 or the Anonymous Tip Line at 760-435-4730.