More than $70K raised for missing Netflix engineer Yohanes Kidane as search continues

Greater than $70,000 has been raised to bolster the seek for a lacking New York engineer who mysteriously disappeared after taking a rideshare to San Francisco — simply weeks after starting a brand new job at Netflix.

Yohanes Kidane, 22 — who was final seen the night time of Aug. 14 getting into an Uber — remained lacking Tuesday, as family members pleaded on a GoFundMe web page for extra assets to search out him.

“A search effort by his household, pals, and friends is underway,” says the GoFundMe marketing campaign, which has raised $74,000 as of Tuesday morning for journey, non-public investigators, attorneys and different assets for the search.

“We can not specific sufficient gratitude for any assist you may present.”

Kidane disappeared days after he expressed hesitancy about taking rideshares alone after having a “unusual encounter” with an Uber driver.

Whereas making an attempt to get dwelling the Saturday earlier than he went lacking, Kidane had an uncommon and uncomfortable trip with an Uber driver who insisted on taking a much less direct path to his San Jose condominium.

“The motive force was insistent on taking him by way of Oakland, and Yohanes, suspicious of his intentions, was lastly capable of cancel his trip after crossing the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge,” the GoFundMe mentioned.

“After this ordeal, he expressed his hesitancy in ridesharing alone,” in keeping with the web page.

Days after voicing these issues about ridesharing, Kidane was captured on safety cameras leaving his downtown San Jose condominium and getting into a car that had an Uber sticker on show.

“Two younger colleagues of his noticed him and have been capable of speak to him,” Kidane’s brother Yosief told KTVU. “He mentioned he was heading to San Francisco to possibly meet a pal. The final footage I’ve seen of him was leaving his condominium constructing and getting right into a black Toyota Camry.” 

Kidane had solely moved to the Bay Space in July from Webster, New York, and was in his second week of labor on the streaming large, the place he was not too long ago employed as a software program engineer.

Kidane’s cellphone’s location confirmed he was on the Golden Gate Bridge nearly all of the night time of Monday, Aug. 14. However by the subsequent morning, his private belongings have been discovered close to the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Middle in San Francisco, in keeping with the fundraiser and a lacking individuals poster shared by his brother.

Kidane, who graduated from Cornell College in Could, is a black man who stands 5 ft 8 inches tall, weighs roughly 150 kilos, and was final seen sporting grey sweatpants, a black hoodie and black footwear.

“The investigation has uncovered no proof to recommend {that a} crime has occurred,” the San Jose police said. “San Jose Detectives have saved Mr. Kidane’s household suggested of all pertinent developments within the case. The case will stay open till Mr. Kidane is positioned.”

Anybody with info that may very well be used to assist discover Yohanes Kidane is requested to contact the San Jose Police Division at (408) 277-8900 and may reference case quantity 23-277-0531.