“Red Heel Heist” sparks one-of-a-kind News Channel 3 investigation in Isla Vista

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — For years, a giant red stiletto standing tall along Highway 101 near La Conchita has sparked curiosity and brought joy to drivers.

“It was just that little bit of humor that somebody—I don't know if somebody put it there for our eyes to just enjoy,” said Frances Tiger, who lives in Santa Barbara.

Its origins date back a decade, when Sharon Bradford gifted the stiletto to her friend Phyllis Smith for her 70th birthday after spotting it in a Los Angeles prop shop. The party was canceled after Smith’s husband was injured, and the shoe sat in storage until farmer Dennis Pozzebon found it and placed it on his property, where it became a local roadside mystery.

Years later, Bradford asked to borrow the shoe back for Smith’s 80th birthday celebration. After the party, it was returned to its familiar spot along Highway 101 for travelers to enjoy.

“It’s like a little monument,” said UCSB student Kiersten Falat, who was shocked to find out the stiletto had gone missing the last week of February.

But who would take a giant red shoe?

“Either somebody really hates high heels or somebody that loves high heels,” said David Mendoza.

“I do believe there are several people that know what happened to it,” said Sarah Pozzebon.

Pozzebon's husband found the giant shoe a few years ago by a dumpster and relocated it by the 101 Freeway, breathing new life into the Styrofoam creation.

If you open a Reddit thread, you'll find several comments—and most of them trace back to Isla Vista.

“The person that took it isn't going to just take it to their basement and keep it a secret forever,” said Pozzebon.

So we went exploring in Isla Vista.

One Instagram user sent us a screenshot of a YikYak post that showed the red stiletto outside the 6600 block of Sabado Tarde.

The image appears to show the shoe with a fresh coat of paint—a striking detail the owner noticed back in early February.

She said she had also noticed the heel was broken and that the stiletto had mysteriously moved to another part of the field before it ultimately disappeared.

“We should have put an AirTag in it when that happened,” Pozzebon said.

Henry Sarria, who has lived in Isla Vista for years, said he saw a different YikYak post showing the stiletto in the 6500 block of Del Playa Drive.

“This generation's amazing. Anything illicit or against the law—the first thing they do is share it on social media,” said Sarria.

We asked residents in the surrounding buildings where it could be.

“I think we just got unlucky that it happened to be right next to our house because our house isn't affiliated with the fraternity at all,” said fraternity member Tyler Miller.

Several locals told us to check the fraternities.

So we went door to door, hopeful to find more clues.

“I genuinely wish we could take credit for it, but I don’t even know where we would hide it,” said Brandon Bell from Alpha Tau Alpha.

“We don't have it. Let’s just get that one thing clear. I feel like if we had it, you would see it. Nothing in the house is big enough to store it,” said fraternity member Levi Salzman.

Multiple people suggested a frat known for pulling pranks.

That fraternity is just half a mile from the last sighting of the shoe.

So we knocked on their door.

One of the residents answered after 10 minutes but said they needed to take care of something before letting us in.

After waiting a while longer, we got no response.

But pranks like these in Isla Vista have a rich history dating back to 1965.

“The inflatable spuds went missing, the Oscars statue, the sign… it’s just what happens in this town. We don’t know why. It’s like Area 51,” said Pete Smith, owner of Sweet Pete’s Treats.

Though the mystery remains unsolved, the community is determined to trace the steps of the red stiletto.

Pozzebon said she didn't file a police report. She and her husband just want the shoe back in the spot where everyone can enjoy it—no questions asked. She said whoever brings it back will be a local hero.

If you have any information about the red stiletto, reach out to your News Channel.