Missing Valentine’s Day date last seen arguing with boyfriend

A 28-year-old woman who disappeared after a night out celebrating Valentine’s Day at a popular Costa Mesa nightclub was seen early the following morning arguing with her boyfriend, authorities in Orange County said they’ve been told.

The latest clue in the search for Erica Alonso came from another couple who told investigators they befriended the missing Laguna Hills woman and her boyfriend at Sutra Lounge in downtown Costa Mesa, said Lt. Jeff Hallock of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

The couple, who were seen with Alonso and her boyfriend in a surveillance tape from the nightclub, came forward early Friday after learning that detectives wanted to talk with them.

Hallock said the couple told deputies that they offered Alonso and her date a ride, and they left the club around 1:30 a.m. Sunday and drove to the home of Alonso’s date in Irvine.

The couple left the home around 3:45 a.m. after the missing woman and her date got into an argument, Hallock said authorities were told. About 10 to 15 minutes later, Alonso apparently left the Irvine home, authorities said.

Hallock told KTLA that Alonso’s boyfriend has been cooperative and has talked with authorities.

“We can’t label him a suspect or a person of interest at this point, but obviously he was the last person to have seen or heard from Alonso,” Hallock said.

He said there has been no activity on her cellphone, even though Alonso is generally very active on social media.

At an emotional press conference Friday outside the Sheriff’s Department headquarters in Santa Ana, Alonso’s family pleaded for her safety.

“We just want her home. We miss her so much,” said her sister, Patricia.

Authorities described Alonso as Latino, 5-foot-3 and 110 pounds, with long brown hair and brown eyes.

She left her date’s house driving a white, four-door 2014 Honda Civic EX with California license plate 7FSS563, authorities said.

Authorities asked that anyone with information about the case call the Sheriff’s Department at (714) 647-7055 or (714) 647-7000.

KTLA contributed to this post.