Heidi Planck: Missing LA mom, 39, died on the night she disappeared, rules judge
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Heidi Planck, a missing bookkeeper, has been identified as dead. According to court records, a judge determined that the 39-year-old mother died on October 17, 2021, the night she vanished in Los Angeles. The mother of one mysteriously disappeared after appearing at her son's flag football game and hadn't been seen or heard from again.
The family of the LA mom had previously expressed their worry that foul play may have been involved, despite the fact that no suspected cause of death has been publicly disclosed. The Sun published a story about allegations that Heidi, who was 39 at the time, may have overdosed on prescription medicine at a party with strippers and cryptocurrency gambling.
READ MORE
How did David O'Connell die? 'Peacemaker' bishop, 69, found dead due to gunshot wound in LA
She was dating a high-flying executive at Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's foundation when she vanished, and her financier boss Jason Sugarman had ties to President Joe Biden's troubled son Hunter Biden, as claimed by The Sun. Sugarman was recently compelled to pay over $10 million in connection with a civil investigation into a significant fraud scheme.
'Heidi died in Los Angeles'
Jim Wayne, Heidi's 64-year-old ex-husband, filed the petition for her to be declared dead so their son could collect money from her life insurance policy. The Superior Court of Los Angeles' Judge Ruben Garcia ruled on January 17 and stated, "The court will note that the petitioner (Jim Wayne) has sufficiently satisfied the burden of proof in arguing for death." "No reasonable inferences from the evidence adduced can lead one to determine that she remains alive, that is Heidi."
Heidi died in Los Angeles at 9 pm on October 17, 2021, according to Judge Garcia's official report. He claimed that Wayne's attorney's "compelling arguments" and the investigating officer's testimony provided during a private hearing had convinced him. Wayne grinned, shook his lawyer's hand, and patted him on the back following the decision.
'I have my own ideas on what happened'
Speaking to The Sun, Wayne said, "Everything is still pure speculation right now. I have my own ideas on what happened but for now I’m happy we got to a place of real closure - don’t forget that I’ve got a young son at home." He added, "I have full confidence that the investigators are going to figure out what happened. It is an active criminal investigation and they have not stopped making inquiries. I believe they will figure it out."
Police have been looking into the matter for well over a year, but no arrests or suspects have been named.
Who is Judge Ruben Garcia?
Judge Ruben Garcia is a Superior Court judge in Los Angeles County, California. He took office in 2017. His current term will expire on January 6, 2025. Garcia gained re-election as a Superior Court judge in Los Angeles County, California, in the primary on June 5, 2018, after the primary and general elections were canceled.