Heidi Planck

Full Report

Key Points

• Heidi Planck, a 39-year-old financial controller at Camden Capital Partners, disappeared on October 17, 2021, in Los Angeles, sparking widespread media attention and police investigation.

• Her disappearance is linked to her workplace, where her boss, Jason Sugarman, faced a $43 million fraud investigation by the SEC, raising suspicions of foul play.

• Forensic evidence suggests Planck died at a downtown LA apartment complex, with her body possibly disposed of in a landfill, though no remains have been found.

• Allegations of financial misconduct surfaced, with her employer accusing her of embezzlement, though these claims lack substantiation.

• Planck’s case remains unsolved, with no arrests or suspects named as of 2023, leaving her family, particularly her young son, without closure.

Overview

Heidi Planck was a 39-year-old mother and financial controller at Camden Capital Partners, a Los Angeles-based investment firm. As a financial controller, she oversaw accounting processes and had access to sensitive financial data. Planck, a dedicated mother to her 10-year-old son, was last seen on October 17, 2021, after leaving her son’s football game in Downey, California, appearing “antsy.” She was reported missing three days later when she failed to pick up her son from school, an uncharacteristic act for a devoted parent. Surveillance footage captured her entering a downtown LA apartment complex with her dog, which was later found alone on the 28th floor. Her 2017 Range Rover was discovered in a nearby parking garage. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) believes she died at the complex, and her case is being handled by the Robbery-Homicide Division.

Allegations and Concerns

• Employer Accusations: After Planck’s disappearance, an assistant to Jason Sugarman accused her of “siphoning off money” from Camden Capital Partners, claiming to have proof via her personal bank statements. Her ex-husband, Jim Wayne, disputed these claims, noting police found no significant funds in her accounts, suggesting the accusations were baseless or retaliatory.

• Workplace Connection to Fraud: Planck’s boss, Jason Sugarman, was under investigation by the SEC for a $43 million fraud scheme involving pension funds and a Native American tribe. Her role as financial controller meant she likely had knowledge of the firm’s financial dealings, prompting speculation that her disappearance was linked to this investigation.

• Suspicious Behavior by Employer: Wayne reported that Sugarman and his assistant showed little concern for Planck’s disappearance, focusing instead on recovering her company laptop, which Wayne turned over to police. Sugarman was seen on surveillance footage leaving muffins at Planck’s home shortly after her disappearance, an action Wayne found odd given the context.

• Drug Overdose Theory: A lawsuit by a former resident of the Hope + Flower building alleged Planck died of a fentanyl-laced drug overdose at a “drug-fueled” party in a penthouse, with her body disposed of via a trash chute. This theory is disputed by Planck’s friend Kimberly Edwards, who argued Planck’s social anxiety and clean lifestyle made this scenario unlikely.

Customer Feedback

As Planck was not a business but an individual employee, there are no direct customer reviews. However, feedback from those close to her and public sentiment provide insight:

• Positive Feedback: Planck was described by her ex-husband and friends as a devoted mother who texted or called her son every night when not with him. Her mother, Suzanne Smeader, noted Planck was planning a Thanksgiving visit, indicating a stable personal life. Friend Kimberly Edwards praised her character, stating, “Anyone who knows Heidi knows she wouldn’t be at a party taking drugs.”

• Negative Feedback: The only negative commentary came from her employer’s assistant, who accused her of embezzlement. These claims were not corroborated by police, who found no evidence of significant funds in her accounts. Public sentiment, as seen on platforms like Reddit and Websleuths, largely sympathizes with Planck, with many theorizing foul play linked to her workplace rather than personal misconduct.

• Example Quote: Jim Wayne told media, “Heidi is the type of mother who texts or calls her son, every night without fail when he’s not with her,” highlighting her reliability and dedication.

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Risk Considerations

• Reputational Risk: Planck’s association with Camden Capital Partners, a firm under SEC scrutiny, tarnished her professional reputation posthumously due to unproven embezzlement allegations. Her disappearance also fueled public speculation about her personal life, with court records citing past drug abuse and psychotic breakdowns, though these were from a custody dispute and lack recent corroboration.

• Legal Risk: If alive, Planck could face legal scrutiny over the embezzlement allegations, though no evidence supports these claims. Her knowledge of Camden’s financial dealings could have made her a target in the SEC’s fraud investigation, potentially contributing to her disappearance.

• Personal Safety Risk: The forensic evidence and landfill search suggest Planck met with foul play, indicating a severe personal safety risk tied to her workplace or the apartment complex incident. The lack of arrests heightens the ongoing risk to others with similar knowledge of Camden’s operations.

• Financial Risk: Planck’s estate faces no direct financial risk, but her son’s access to her life insurance was delayed until a court declared her deceased in January 2023, impacting family finances.

Business Relations and Associations

• Camden Capital Partners: Planck worked closely with managing partner Jason Sugarman, who faced SEC charges for a $43 million fraud scheme. Sugarman’s business partner, Jason Galanis, is serving a 15-year sentence for related frauds. Sugarman also had ties to Hunter Biden and Devon Archer through a 2015 business deal in China, as revealed by emails from Biden’s laptop.

• Personal Associations: Planck was divorced from Jim Wayne, with whom she shared custody of their son. She had a boyfriend in San Francisco for three years, though his identity and role in the case remain unclear. Her mother, Suzanne Smeader, and friend Kimberly Edwards were vocal advocates for her case.

• Other Connections: Sugarman’s ties to high-profile figures, including Ghislaine Maxwell (from a 2012 event) and Peter Guber (his father-in-law), added layers of complexity to the investigation, though no direct link to Planck’s disappearance was established.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• SEC Investigation: Camden Capital Partners and Jason Sugarman were investigated for a $43 million fraud scheme that defrauded pension funds and left a Native American tribe $60 million in debt. Sugarman was ordered to pay $10.2 million in 2023 without admitting or denying guilt.

• Lawsuit Against Hope + Flower: Former resident Brittany Stillwell filed a lawsuit alleging the building’s owners knew of illegal activities (gambling, drugs) in a penthouse where Planck allegedly died. The owners sought to dismiss the lawsuit, and no resolution is publicly reported.

• Custody Dispute Records: Court documents from Planck’s 2015 custody battle with Wayne alleged drug abuse (Adderall) and psychotic breakdowns, though these were not substantiated in recent records and may reflect biased claims from a contentious divorce.

• Life Insurance Ruling: In January 2023, a judge declared Planck deceased, allowing her son to access her life insurance funds, resolving a financial concern for her family.

• No Criminal Charges: Despite extensive investigation, no arrests or charges have been filed in Planck’s case, leaving legal concerns unresolved.

Risk Assessment Table

For individuals in similar roles, avoid working for firms with questionable ethics, as financial controllers are uniquely exposed to legal and personal risks. Maintain clear documentation of all financial transactions to counter false accusations. For Planck’s case, public pressure and tips remain critical to resolving the investigation, and her family should continue leveraging media and billboards to keep the case visible.