California couple’s scenic Redwood trip turns terrifying as ‘Heaven Sent’ van tracks them across town

A weekend drive through Northern California’s iconic redwood forests reportedly turned frightening for a couple who say they were followed, confronted, and nearly forced off the road by a man driving a blue van marked with a “Heaven Sent” bumper sticker.

The account, first shared on Reddit by user Historical-Wafer2806, describes a May 3 outing to the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt County that escalated into a multi-location encounter across Eureka. The post has since circulated locally as others say they experienced similar interactions with the same individual, though those claims remain unverified.

“Cut zip ties” and a “Heaven Sent” sticker

According to the post, the couple noticed a blue van, possibly a Ford Sprinter-style vehicle, parked near them with a “Heaven Sent” sticker. After returning from a walk, they observed cut zip ties on the vehicle, which they later interpreted as suspicious. Shortly after, a man allegedly exited the van and approached them.

The user said the boyfriend briefly spoke with the man but became uncomfortable and ended the interaction. The Reddit post states the user took a photo of the individual before leaving.

Hours later, the situation allegedly escalated in nearby Eureka, California. The couple reported seeing the same van again and later being approached in front of a residence where the man attempted to block their vehicle.

The Redditor wrote that the man claimed to recognize the boyfriend from a prior encounter in Kneeland, adding to their alarm.

The van followed the couple

According to the post, the van followed them through city streets and onto side roads. The Redditor described erratic driving behavior, including attempts to overtake their vehicle and moments when the man allegedly exited his van while shouting in the roadway. Police were contacted during the incident, and the couple says they eventually lost the vehicle near the Winco area in Eureka.

The post also alleges the individual may have previously harassed women near Rampart, though this remains unconfirmed by the authorities.

A separate Facebook post circulating in 2025 appears to describe a similar individual. It states, “This is not necessarily about a thief, but a dangerous individual.” The post also claims a man matching the description had been released from jail and was previously involved in multiple campus and community incidents, including aggressive behavior and confrontations requiring intervention by campus security and law enforcement. The identity referenced online has not been independently verified.

Both posts have generated discussion in community groups, with multiple commenters reportedly sharing similar accounts of being approached or followed in Humboldt County. However, these claims are unsubstantiated by official investigations. As of publication, no confirmed local news reports or publicly available criminal records have been located that definitively link the incidents or verify the identity of the individual described in the posts.