Family, Friends Mourning Loss of Tech CEO

SAN JOSE, CALIF. – Family and members of the Utah Tech community are mourning the loss of 33-year-old Erin Valenti after search efforts were called off Saturday evening.

San Jose Police confirmed Saturdaythat they were conducting a death investigation in the area near Valenti’s last known location stating they were, “conducting a death investigation in the 6500 block of Bose Lane in San Jose. A body was located inside a vehicle parked on the street.”

Friends of Valenti’s told KSLTV her body was found in the back of the vehicle.

Saturday evening, a page administrator posted this statement to the Facebook page, “Help Find Erin Valenti:”

Many of you have seen that the search for Erin has been called off. While we were praying for a different outcome, we are so appreciative for the help and support you have given. Please remember Erin as the beautiful, smart, funny woman that she was. I don’t have any details that have not been in the media. I’m sure that Harrison will thank you himself when he is able, but please be patient.

Valenti’s family sent a similar statement to KSL5 news.

According to NBC Bay Area, on Saturday afternoon someone reported a vehicle that appeared to match the description of Valenti’s rental car and contacted police.

The rental vehicle was described as a 2020 Gray Nissan Murano with license plate 8LUD641.

The neighborhood on Bose Lane is about a mile from where Valenti’s family says her cell phone last pinged, according to NBC Bay Area, near Almaden Expressway and Camden Avenue in San Jose.

On Friday, Valenti’s husband and family members posted flyers in the area.

Valenti’s husband, Harrison Weinstein, was one of the last to speak with her and told NBC Bay Area that she had not been acting like herself during the conversation and sounded confused.

“My last communication was on the phone with her Monday night, so after the last person saw her, and I was on the phone trying to figure out where she was. She was still saying, “I’m going to the airport” but was also bouncing off of topics, Weinstein said.

Valenti, founder and CEO of Utah based Tinker Ventures, was on a trip in the Bay Area, according to Weinstein. She was driving from Palo Alto to San Jose to catch a flight back to Salt Lake City on Monday night. However, Weinstein says she never made the flight.

Concerns continued to grow when she missed the Women Tech Awards on Wednesday where she received an award.

Women Tech Council spokeswoman Abigail Shaha shared the following statement:

“Our hearts are broken. We have just learned that our friend, community member, and fellow technology leader, Erin Valenti’s body has been found. We honored her this week for her entrepreneurial excellence, her incredible career and work. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband, family and colleagues around the world.”

Official identification of the body and cause of death are expected from the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s office later this week.