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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were stolen from my manager’s handbag. I arrived just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once Wilson entered the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the road situation allowing individuals to continue to remain on the highway and extend this pursuit,” commented a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by authorities, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters indicated on the following day that the vehicle was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the car,” Walters remarked. “I’m relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and addiction crisis,” she said. “We need additional assistance. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.