Missing Person Found Deceased 21-033(a)

Christopher Woitel was reported missing by his mother on January 13, 2021. Christopher last contacted his mother via social media on January 9, 2021, and had not been heard from since. On February 12, 2021 investigators from the SFPD Special Victims Unit (SVU) served a search warrant at Mr. Woitel’s residence on the unit block of Guerrero Street. The purpose of the search warrant was to locate evidence of a crime scene. Investigators did not locate signs of forced entry into the home or evidence of a crime and they resecured the residence.

On February 12, 2021 investigators from the SFPD Special Victims Unit (SVU) served a search warrant at Mr. Woitel’s residence on the unit block of Guerrero Street. The purpose of the search warrant was to locate evidence of a crime scene. Investigators did not locate signs of forced entry into the home or evidence of a crime and they resecured the residence.

In furtherance of the investigation on February 15, 2021 SVU investigators, along with investigators from Crime Scene Investigations (CSI), served a second search warrant at Mr. Woitel’s residence. Investigators searched a small, approximately three-foot-tall, crawl space above the bathroom in the home and located Mr. Woitel’s body, which was hidden from plain view. Personnel from the San Francisco Fire Department arrived and needed to cut a hole in the ceiling in order to retrieve Mr. Woitel’s remains. Investigators determined that Mr. Woitel likely accessed the crawl space from the roof of the building and not from inside his apartment.

The San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office (OCME) responded and began an investigation into his death. Foul play in not suspected this incident. The cause of death is pending the medical examiner’s autopsy.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the SFPD 24-hour tip line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.