Search for missing woman who vanished on roadtrip with boyfriend sparks Gabby Petito comparisons
Disappearance of Nikki Alcaraz on a trip from Tennessee to California after she was allegedly assaulted has drawn chilling parallels to Gabby Petito case
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Family of a missing Tennessee mother-of-two who vanished on a cross-country roadtrip with her boyfriend say they fear she is in immediate danger.
Nikki Alcaraz, 33, who also goes by Nikki Cunningham, was travelling in her black Jeep Wrangler with her boyfriend Tyler Stratton and pet dog from in Cheatham County to visit family in Orange County, California, authorities say.
She was last seen on the morning of 6 May at a Super 8 motel in the small town of Moriarty, New Mexico, about 40 miles east of Albuquerque.
In a chilling echo of the Gabby Petito case, the couple were pulled over on 4 May in Torrance County, New Mexico, after witnesses reported seeing Mr Stratton punch his girlfriend in the face.
Bombshell letter where Brian Laundrie’s mother vowed to ‘dispose of body’ is given to Gabby Petito’s parents
She vanished months before the Idaho murders. Why has her death been linked to Bryan Kohberger?
Succession’s tragic finale has shown that TV can be as vital and profound as any work of art can hope for
Photos released by the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Department showed Ms Alcaraz with a black left eye after the incident.
According to an incident report, Mr Stratton claimed he had also been hit, and Torrance County sheriff’s deputies observed blood coming from his mouth.
Neither Mr Stratton nor Ms Alcaraz wanted to press charges, and she was given a ride to Moriarty.
Her sister Toni Alcaraz told WKRN that she hadn’t heard from Ms Alcaraz since she received a text message on 9 May saying she was planning to continue to California.
Toni Alcaraz told WKRN that she spoke to her sister after the alleged assault and that she was crying and upset.
“Her eye was already turning black and you could tell she was beat up pretty bad,” Toni Alcaraz told the news site.
A friend travelled from California to take care of Ms Alcaraz and stayed at the Super 8 with her for a night.
She left early on the morning of 6 May, telling her friend that she was going to find her boyfriend.
Toni Alcaraz told WKRN that the sisters were usually in daily text and phone contact, and it was highly unusual not to hear from her for an extended period.
“I am scared something happened to them, whether they got in another fight or if they crashed her Jeep somewhere,” she said.
A license plate reader picked up Ms Alcaraz's Jeep near Flagstaff, Arizona earlier this month, however police say her cellphone is out of service and untraceable.
Mr Stratton has an outstanding arrest warrant for an unrelated theft charge in Cheatham County.
Ms Alcaraz’s two children were at home in Cheatham County, the family said.
In September 2021, Gabby Petito’s remains were found in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming after she disappeared on a road trip with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie.
The couple was pulled over in Utah by officers from the Moab Polic Department on 12 August after receiving reports that Laundrie had struck Petito.
They were allowed to continue separately after Laundrie claimed he had been hit by Petito.
An independent review of the domestic assault incident found the officers had made several mistakes, and should have been classified as a domestic assault.
Laundrie later shot himself in the head and left a suicide note confessing to killing Petito.
Petito’s family are suing the Moab Police Department for failing to follow the law and protect her during the traffic stop.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments