Nursing Student's Disappearance Weighs Heavily On Festivalgoers

The disappearance of a San Mateo nursing student was on the minds of residents at the Foster City Arts and Wine Festival this weekend.

Volunteers were on hand to pass out flyers and photos of Michelle Le, who has been missing for a little over a week. Fliers and posters were also hung in booths around the festival grounds.

"I just want to do as much as I can to help out," one vendor said.

About 7 p.m. on May 27, Le stepped out during a break in her duties at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Hayward and never returned. According to Hayward police, video surveillance from the Kaiser garage shows her car being driven out of the parking structure that night, though it does not clearly show who was driving.

Friends and fellow nursing students told police that Le was planning to drive to Reno that night after her clinical rotation ended at the Kaiser facility. But she never came back after the 7 p.m. break.

A reward for information leading to Le's return—thanks to donations from strangers—has grown to $45,000. The family also announced that the FBI has stepped in to help with the investigation.

Her brother and cousin, who've been speaking on behalf of Le's family, spoke to the media and supporters who came together for a vigil last week at the spot where Le's car was found after her disappearance last week.

"I hope she can be found anywhere—safe and alive. Hopefully somewhere close," said Le's cousin Krystine Dinh.

Michelle Le is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes. The Hayward Police Department has set up a tip line for anyone with information that could help with the case; that number is 510-293-5051.