SACRAMENTO, CA — The California Highway Patrol issued an endangered missing advisory Thursday for a 36-year-old Vallejo woman last seen in mid-October, expanding the alert across five Northern California counties. Investigators say Serena Walling was last seen late on Oct. 17 near Sereno Drive and Broadway in Vallejo.
The advisory was activated on behalf of the Vallejo Police Department and covers Contra Costa, Napa, Sacramento, Solano and Yolo counties. Authorities believe Walling may have been traveling on foot. No additional information about what happened before or after she disappeared was immediately available.
Officials are asking anyone who has seen Walling to contact 911 right away.
What investigators say about Serena Walling
According to the CHP, Walling is 5 feet tall and weighs about 140 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. When she was last seen, she was wearing a black sweatshirt and black pants.
The details released so far are limited to her last known appearance and the clothing she had on at the time. Investigators have not publicly described where she may have gone after leaving Vallejo or whether there are other leads in the case.
The advisory identifies her as endangered, a designation that signals authorities are concerned for her safety. That classification can prompt wider public attention and a broader search area while officers work to gather more information.
Alert spread beyond Vallejo into nearby counties
The advisory reaches well beyond the city where Walling was last seen. By including five counties, the CHP is signaling that she could have moved through a wider stretch of the North Bay and Sacramento region.
The counties named in the alert are Contra Costa, Napa, Sacramento, Solano and Yolo. That geographic footprint reflects the possibility that Walling could have traveled away from Vallejo on foot or with someone else, though authorities have not said which route she may have taken.
For residents in those counties, the alert is a request to remain alert for anyone matching her description and to act quickly if they believe they have spotted her.
Last seen near Sereno Drive and Broadway on Oct. 17
Walling was last seen at about 10:45 p.m. near Sereno Drive and Broadway in Vallejo, according to the CHP. That time and location are now the key known reference points in the search.
Authorities have not said whether she was alone when she was last seen or whether investigators have identified any witnesses who may have seen her leaving the area. They also have not released details about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
With few public facts available, the exact timeline after her last sighting remains unclear. The advisory’s release suggests investigators want the public’s help filling in those gaps.
Why the CHP uses an endangered missing advisory
An endangered missing advisory is used when authorities believe a missing person may be at risk and want fast public awareness. In cases like this, the goal is to widen the search and encourage anyone with even a small piece of useful information to come forward.
Because the alert was issued by the CHP for the Vallejo Police Department, the two agencies are working together on the case. The broader county list also increases the odds that drivers, pedestrians and residents in the region will notice the description and location details.
Officials did not announce any major new developments when the alert was issued, but the advisory itself shows the case is still active.
How the public can help right now
Authorities are asking anyone who sees Serena Walling to call 911 immediately. They want the public to treat the alert seriously and report possible sightings without delay.
People in the affected counties may also want to share her description with family members, neighbors and coworkers, especially those who spend time outdoors, travel late at night or move regularly between communities in the region. Small details can matter in missing-person investigations.
For now, the confirmed information remains her description, the clothing she was last seen wearing and the location and time of her disappearance. Investigators have not released any further details about her condition or whereabouts.
