Michelle Le Update: Vigil Tonight for Missing Student, Reward Increases to $40,000

Michelle Le

​Family and friends of Michelle Le, the nursing student who went missing a week ago, will gather tonight for a vigil at the site where her car was found last Friday.

The vigil will be held at Ponderosa Court in Hayward, about a half-mile from Kaiser Hospital where Le, 26, was last seen. Her family is expected to announce that they are increasing the reward being offered for her safe return from $20,000 to $40,000.

The family e-mailed SF Weekly a statement today, admitting that time is no longer on their side.

"Through our collaboration with the Hayward Police Department, we know that the six personnel assigned are doing their best with the resources currently dedicated," the statement reads. "The reality is that the department can only devote so many hours per day to the search."

Police have interviewed dozens of people and even identified some persons of interest, including Giselle Esteban, an old friend of Le's. Police searched her home and vehicle earlier this week. Investigators are exploring the possibility that Esteban might be holding a grudge against Le for stealing her high school boyfriend years ago, according to KTVU.

Le was last seen leaving Kaiser Hospital at about 7 p.m. as she was taking a break from her mentoring program. She was supposed to meet friends in Reno that weekend, but never showed up. Police have surveillance footage of Le leaving the parking garage in her white Honda. Her car was later found locked on Ponderosa Court with her laptop inside.

"Loved ones will be traveling from all over the state to meet the community that has so greatly helped us, and to collaborate on where to go from here," her family said.

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