Five years after Rebecca Modrall’s murder, her mother continues to seek answers
Five years ago, Rancho Mirage resident Rebecca Modrall woman went missing and the homicide investigation continues.
“I am bound and determined to uncover what happened to her. And so I'm hoping through doing this story, that there's people out there that know something that have been hesitant to say anything up until now," said her mother, Sarah Modrall.
Rebecca was last seen on Feb. 5, 2019. She was set to meet her long-time boyfriend at his home in La Quinta.
“Rebecca was not planning on staying at the house very long, because she had left her house and she had left her two cats there. And she loved her cats and she never would have left them, said Sarah. "“I know exactly why she was going over there. And then she just never never came back.”
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office declared the case a homicide investigation, although Modrall's body has not been found and no arrests have been made.
Rebecca's disappearance has prompted very few answers, but now, new information has sparked hope for her mother, Sarah Modrall.
"Someone recently contacted me within the last six months and gave me some information," Sarah explained. "And I've been so grateful about that. I know there are other people that have information. And I would just beseech you to come forward and say what you know."
While investigators have not released any new details in the case, News Channel 3's Tori King spoke with Sarah about the latest on the case. Sarah tells us has asked investigators to keep searching. She's also hoping to get some fresh eyes on the case.
"I've contacted the district attorney's office, I've contacted the cold case unit, I've contacted the FBI at different times and contacted everyone I can think of that maybe would be interested in looking at this case," said Sarah.
She believes there are people that know information, but because Rebecca worked as an escort they may be hesitant to come forward.
“I want people to know that she wasn't just an escort. But she was wonderfully loved by her family. She was smart, and incredibly talented. She would sing, she loved to sing. She loves music, and she had such a kind heart," said Sarah.
“I know she did some things that I'm not proud of that I wish she wouldn't have done. But she was involved with a lot of men in this city. They were paying for her services," said Sarah. "They were lying. They were cheating on their wives. Did that mean they deserve to be murdered? No. So I really want to see justice for Rebecca. And I'm bound and determined to get it.”
Sarah says her entire family hasn't given up hope in finding her body. She just needs a few more people to come forward with any information that could lead to a breakthrough. It's something that would mean the world to her and her granddaughter.
“She was young when her mother went missing, and there's a void there. And she needs answers just like all of us do. And for someone to have the answers and purposely withhold it is very cruel, in my opinion."
Sarah says she won't stop until she finds Rebecca. She isn't looking to prosecute anyone, she's more concerned with locating her remains.
"If people think that I'm going to quit trying to find answers, I'm not what people don't understand, when you go through something like this, it's not something you can just forget. I think about it every day of my life."
Watch the full report tonight at 11 p.m. on News Channel 3.
If you have any information on this case, you are urged to contact investigators at 760-836-1600 or 760-836-3215. You can also report any information anonymously.
Check out some of our previous reporting on the Rebecca Modrall case:
- A Mother’s Mission: An I-Team investigation into the disappearance of Rebecca Modrall
- Family continues to demand answers as third year of Rebecca Modrall’s disappearance approaches
- I-Team: A Mother’s Mission – Justice for Rebecca
