The friends and community of Irina Lapina are urgently appealing to the public for assistance in locating the 42-year-old researcher, who vanished from the Mar Vista neighborhood of West Los Angeles more than ten days ago.
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She was last seen on Sunday, May 10, 2026. Friends state that she left behind all of her personal belongings—including her clothing and everyday items—indicating that she did not plan to walk away or go missing.
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Profile of Irina Lapina
Background: Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Lapina is a U.S. citizen. She is highly educated, holding a PhD in Microbiology.
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Profession: She previously worked as a prominent scientific researcher at both the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), as well as the University of Southern California (USC).
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Recent Circumstances: According to community advocates and public missing persons alerts, Lapina had been staying at an apartment in Mar Vista in the weeks leading up to her disappearance. Friends note that she was going through a period of severe personal hardship, dealing with unemployment, housing instability, and profound depression.
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How You Can Help
Because she left her belongings behind, friends and authorities are deeply concerned for her safety, mental health, and physical well-being.
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Residents, business owners, and commuters in Mar Vista, Culver City, Venice, and the broader West Los Angeles area are being asked to check any security footage from May 10 onward and to keep an eye out for her.
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