Possible sighting of missing woman in Costa Mesa

A former Costa Mesa woman suffering from dementia who was reported missing earlier this month may have been seen at a Costa Mesa soup kitchen.

Janet DeFelice was reported missing June 1 from her son’s house in rural Templeton, said San Luis Obispo County Sherriff’s Sgt. Brian Hascall.

DeFelice had lived in Costa Mesa for nine years before moving to Templeton on May 31.

Authorities received a call Friday of a possible sighting at Someone Cares soup kitchen in the 700 block of W. 19th Street about a week ago by one of the employees, Hascall said. It is the first reported sighting of DeFelice in Costa Mesa.

“We suspect she is still roaming around in the Costa Mesa area,” said Rebecca DeFelice-Burt, Janet’s granddaughter. “We just want to find her.”

DeFelice is 5-foot-7, weighs 130 pounds and was last seen wearing a red sweatshirt, black sweatpants, white tennis shoes and gold-rimmed glasses.

Anyone who has seen her is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (805) 549-STOP or the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Department at (805) 781-4550.

— Yvonne Villarreal