Mystery as nurse mom-of-two who 'loves life' vanishes after going to casino then parking her car at favorite hiking spot

By LAURA PARNABY, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 18:14, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 18:15, 14 July 2026 The desperate search for a California mother-of-two who went missing hours after parking her car close to a trail where she often hiked has entered its second week.  Angelica Brophy, 44, an emergency room nurse from Oceanside, was last seen close to Palomar Mountain in San Diego County just after 4pm on July 6.  Her relatives said she regularly hiked with them in the area, but when she didn't return home that night, her husband called police.  Brophy visited Harrah's Casino earlier in the afternoon and her car was found parked nearby at Doane Valley, according to Oceanside Police Department.  Detectives attempted to ping her cellphone, but it was either turned off or had run out of battery.  Search and rescue teams have been trawling the trails in Palomar Mountain State Park ever since but so far have not found any trace of Brophy.    '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 added. 'She's a very good mom. She will do anything for her children. A desperate search has been launched for California mother-of-two and nurse Angelica Brophy, who went missing hours after parking her car close to a trail where she often hiked Brophy, 44, pictured center, is an emergency room nurse from Oceanside, California. She was last seen close to Palomar Mountain in San Diego County just after 4pm on July 6 Brophy's car was found parked nearby at Doane Valley close to the Palomar State Mountain area (pictured) '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.' 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.  Another brother, Martin Fabregas, said he is trying hard not to let his mind wander into 'dark places.' 'We're trying to encourage everybody to stay positive, stay strong,' he told NBC.  The family has been plastering North County with missing person posters for Brophy in the hopes somebody has seen her.  She was last seen wearing black leggings and a gray t-shirt, according to the poster.  Brophy's relatives said she regularly hiked with them in the mountainous area where she vanished. Her husband called the police after she failed to return home Brophy is a fit and healthy mother-of-two who often hiked in the area where she vanished Brophy was described by her sister-in-law as a devoted mother-of-two who 'loves life.' She is pictured with her brother Rafael Fabregas The beloved nurse works in the emergency room at Kaiser Hospital in San Marcos.  Oceanside Police said there is no indication of foul play in Brophy's disappearance.  Detectives are also investigating Brophy's time at the casino in the hours before she vanished.  Anyone with information about the case should call Oceanside Police at (760) 435-4900.