A Ukrainian national who vanished from San Diego County over a year ago has been found alive in Mexico. Ganna Kovrizhnykh, 39, who also uses the name Angel Volnaya, lost contact with her family on July 5, 2025, near Potrero, California, a city close to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Kovrizhnykh had been living in Hallandale Beach, Florida, since 2022 before embarking on a road trip to California. Before her disappearance, she sent an unusual letter to her mother instructing her to take possession of her assets, including a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a camper trailer. Both vehicles were later found abandoned in Potrero.
In the days leading up to her disappearance, Kovrizhnykh also posted a cryptic video to her Facebook account under her alias, Angel Volnaya. In the video, she read from a Bible, stating, "Two commandments. No one escape. Who kill will die forever." She further declared herself a prophet, warning that "The punishment is coming. The rapture is coming. It is already on the earth. There is only a few years left." In another video posted the same day, she showed a bag of supplies, including water, oil, a solar panel, batteries, a walkie-talkie, and a gas mask, stating, "I just left everything that I have... this is only like three years and the anti-Christ will sit on his throne."
San Diego County Sheriff's Office investigators conducted an extensive investigation and, after exhausting all leads, determined that Kovrizhnykh had likely voluntarily crossed into Mexico. On August 7, 2026, investigators were able to establish contact with Kovrizhnykh, verify her identity, and confirm she is believed to be staying in Sinaloa, Mexico.
The Sheriff's Office has notified the Ukrainian Embassy of Kovrizhnykh's current whereabouts. Initially, law enforcement considered the possibility of foul play but also entertained the idea that she had left voluntarily.