Riverside County

After Temecula Man Vanishes Following Night at Pechanga, He is Found Alive

A Temecula real estate agent whose mysterious disappearance had friends and family fearing the worst was found alive, five days after vanishing following a night at a casino, officials said Friday. 

Rich Tyrrell, 47, was found after he has "voluntarily left" the county, Riverside County Sheriff's Department said Friday.

Few details were provided on his condition, where he was found or why he disappeared.

However, his longtime girlfriend who is also his partner at Rancon Real Estate in Temecula, posted on Facebook that he was found safe. She also thanked the community for its support, and requested people respect their privacy. 

Tyrrell disappeared after visiting the Pechanga Casino. Sattelmaier said in a previous report he didn't answer his cellphone, and his bank accounts had been cleared out.

Sattelmaier said she last saw him Sunday taking a ride-share car to meet up with friends.

She said that he wanted to have some fun and to take his mind off his brother's failing health.

Sattelmaier said around 2:30 a.m. Monday, she spoke to Tyrrell, and he told her that he had won some money at Pechanga Resort and Casino. He also said he would be coming home soon. But he never did.

Sattelmaier said she talked to a bartender at the casino who claims to have seen the Tyrrell with another unidentified man.

"The guy was kind of fishy and buying him a bunch of drinks and he didn't know this guy," she said. "And why was this guy buying him a bunch of drinks?"

Sattelmaier said it's unclear exactly what happened next, but she says Temecula police detectives told her a ride-share driver dropped him off somewhere in Los Angeles County.

Investigators have not confirmed this information to NBCLA. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department confirmed Tyrrell was a missing person before he was found Friday afternoon.

In a statement released Friday, Pechanga said, "We share in the community's relief to hear of Rich Tyrell's safe return. We know the past few days were unnerving for his family and friends. We were glad to assist law enforcement from the outset, and we are grateful to the Riverside Sheriff's Office and everyone that contributed to the search."

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