Ex-Husband Thinks LA Mom’s Disappearance is Tied to Her Work
Missing Los Angeles mom Heidi Planck has captured the world’s attention. Now, her ex-husband Jim Wayne is speaking out and
Ellie Mason
Missing Los Angeles mom Heidi Planck has captured the world’s attention. Now, her ex-husband Jim Wayne is speaking out and says he believes that Planck’s mysterious disappearance may be tied to her work – and her boss, Jason Sugarman. CELEB takes a look at what we know about Planck’s disappearance so far, and what Wayne has to say about why he thinks his ex is nowhere to be found.
What We Know So Far
Planck is a 39-year-old mother from California who works as an accountant for Camden Capital Partners and she’s been missing since October 17th. The circumstances surrounding Planck’s disappearance have turned frankly bizarre as more details emerge, and the country holds its breath as they search desperately for her. Here’s what we know about Planck and the mother of one’s disappearance:
- October 17th Planck went to her son’s football game. There, she met up with ex-husband Wayne. However, she left before the end of the game and Wayne says she may have been “a little edgy” when she left.
- October 17th: Planck was last seen, in Los Angeles. Surveillance shows her leaving her home shortly after leaving the football game but the timeline is a little unclear. At the time she left her home, her dog was with her and was recorded on the video as well.
- October 17th: The dog was found alone in a high-rise building in downtown Los Angeles.
- October 20th: Planck failed to pick up her 10-year-old son, and a missing person’s report was filed soon after.
- October 29th: The FBI raided her home.
What we don’t know:
- What happened between leaving her home and the dog being found at the high rise building.
- Why Planck was agitated and left the football game early.
- Whether she disappeared the same day she was last seen, or sometime between the 17th and 20th.
- Whether she was taken forcibly or under her own power.
The Ex-Husband Thinks There’s Something Fishy
Wayne believes there’s something rotten about his ex-wife’s disappearance and it may be more than a mom running away from it all or a heartbreaking but random abduction. According to Wayne, Planck’s disappearance may have something to do with her job – and the boss who is currently under investigation for a $43M fraud case. Wayne has revealed that federal agents contacted him and asked questions about Planck’s boss, Jason Sugarman, which has led him to believe that they think he’s involved.
Per the Daily Mail, “In 2019, Sugarman was charged by the SEC with hatching a fraudulent scheme that swindled $43million out of pension funds and left a Native American tribe $60million in debt.
Planck’s LinkedIn says she works as a controller at Camden Capital – a role which sees her overseeing all employees involved in the accounting process, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, inventory and compliance.
Sugarman is a minority owner of Los Angeles Football Club and son-in-law of Hollywood mogul Peter Guber, CEO of Mandalay Entertainment and owner of the Golden State Warriors NBA team.”
In 2020, Sugarman’s business partner was sentenced to 189 months in prison for his part in the fraudulent scams. The Daily Mail adds, “Wayne said that Planck told friends and family that the company had ‘some tax filings that were due’ and had complained that ‘her boss has her name on so much of their corporate paperwork.’”
Family and friends believe foul play was involved, whether it’s related to her boss or not. Prior to disappearing, Planck had just made Thanksgiving plans with her mom, and Wayne describes her as a devoted mom who would never go a day without talking to their son. Per Daily Mail, “‘The poor kid, man,’ Wayne said.
‘He just needs to know what the hell happened to his mom. And he’s going to have to have some kind of closure somewhere.’
…Planck is described as having blond hair and blue eyes, standing five feet, three inches tall and weighing about 120 pounds.
When she was last seen, she was wearing jeans and a gray sweater and was driving a gray 2017 Range Rover with California license plate U840X0.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit at 213-996-1800.
During non-business hours or on weekends, tipsters can call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).”
Another Missing Person’s Case That Ended on a High Note
As heartbreaking as it is to wait and wonder for Planck’s loved ones, across the world a story just came to a happy ending. A 4-year-old Australian girl named Cleo Smith went missing from her family’s camping tent on October 16th. According to her mom, Cleo awoke in the middle of the night and asked for a glass of water, then they both went back to sleep. The next morning, Cleo was gone seemingly without a trace.
It’s any parent’s worst nightmare and the family spent weeks in front of cameras pleading for the safe return of their daughter. As the days slipped by, hope seemed lost. But then, a miracle. Due to the tireless diligence of local police, they were able to locate a suspect’s home and target it for a raid. Inside, they found little Cleo alive and well, and when a police officer scooped her up and asked her what her name was, she responded, “My name is Cleo.”
Police have not released details about what little Cleo experienced during the weeks she was being held by her abductor, but she was all smiles when her mom and dad were there to welcome her with relieved and loving arms. It’s not every day that a story like this ends well, and the more time that passes, the more likely it is that it won’t have a happy ending. But against all odds and due to the dedication of local police, one little girl is safely home with the people she loves.
Now, Planck’s family hopes that they can get the same miracle end to their story and find their loved one alive and well. Maybe she’s hiding for fear of repercussion from Sugarman over something related to the fraud charge, or maybe something more sinister happened – but the family continues to hope.
Anyone with any information regarding Planck’s disappearance should contact the above resources.