As the search continues for missing Netflix software engineer Yohanes Kidane, police say there is “no evidence” a crime occurred.
In a statement posted on Twitter/X, the San Jose Police Department said patrol officers and detectives from its missing persons unit have been working the case.
“The investigation has uncovered no evidence to suggest that a crime has occurred. San Jose detectives have kept Mr. Kidane’s family advised of all pertinent developments in the case. The case will remain open until Mr. Kidane is located,” the department said in a statement.
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Kidane was last seen on surveillance footage leaving his apartment building in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 14. He got into a black Toyota Camry with an Uber sticker on it and hasn’t been seen since, his family told Bay Area news station KTVU-TV.
The family contacted authorities after becoming concerned because they hadn’t heard from Kidane.
The next morning a commuter found his wallet and cell phone in San Francisco, near the Golden Gate Bridge welcome center and notified police.
On Wednesday, officers located his backpack.
SJPD said they brought in other agencies to assist with the investigation.
“Detectives are coordinating their investigation with the California Highway Patrol, the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District, the United States Coast Guard, and the involved rideshare service to obtain a conclusive answer as to Mr. Kidane’s whereabouts,” police said.
Kidane, 22, graduated from Cornell University in May. The Rochester, New York, native recently moved to the Bay Area to start a job as a software engineer at Netflix.
His family and friends set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the search. As of Wednesday morning, the page had brought in more than $86,000.
