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Article Taken From Marin IJ news online
Family, friends of agent thankful search is over
By Jennifer Upshaw
Article Launched: 01/16/2008 11:04:16 PM PST
Physically and emotionally exhausted, but relieved their search over, those close to Veronica Ruiz said Wednesday they have what they were looking for.
On Tuesday, the remains of a hiker found on Mount Tamalpais on Sunday were identified as those of the missing Internal Revenue Service agent who lived in Mill Valley.
Investigators believe she used her .40-caliber service gun to kill herself Dec. 3.
After her disappearance, hundreds of law enforcement officials, emergency workers, federal agents and volunteers scoured the mountain looking for her.
The search ended Sunday afternoon when the Marin County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Team uncovered her remains below the Hoo-Koo-E-Koo fire road near West
Blithedale Ridge on Mount Tam's southeast side. The spot, just off a trail she regularly ran, was remote and obscured by trees and dense brush.
"She went somewhere where it wasn't going to be easy to locate her," said Robert Voigt, who was introduced as Ruiz's boyfriend.
Ruiz's weapon and a purse containing her U.S. Treasury Department photo identification were found by her side. A check of dental records provided positive identification.
On Wednesday in Mill Valley, Voigt and Ruiz's sister, Maricris Ruiz, held a press conference at the Mill Valley Holiday Inn Express - the hotel that has served as headquarters for the search. The two thanked the hundreds of people who looked for the 25-year-old missing agent and said a memorial would be held. The funeral will be private.
Authorities have said Ruiz was despondent over a recent breakup with Voigt, but he wouldn't comment on the status of their relationship before her death.
Voigt and Maricris Ruiz offered that relationship issues, pressure at work and family could have contributed to the cause, but they said they couldn't be sure what prompted her suicide. She had no history of depression, they said.
"We can't lie," her sister said. "We've thought of everything - every scenario É but in the end she's found her peace. I'm OK with that.
"She's at peace now, so we're going to let it rest."
Voigt said it's tough to analyze the situation because "you can look at that in so many different ways É It's not right for us to sit here and talk about her thoughts and how it got there. Right now, the family is just glad we found her."
"I think everybody goes through hard times," Maricris Ruiz said.
Voigt had some advice for others in despair.
"Take the time to think about what's really important and how it affects everyone."
Contact Jennifer Upshaw via e-mail at jupshaw@marinij.com
MCSO SAR Unit Mission
Summary (mission 08-05)
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