Matthew Mooney, 47

A multiagency search and rescue effort to locate Matthew Mooney, a 47 year old man from the Bishop area, concluded yesterday late afternoon when Mooney was located deceased.  Search and rescue (SAR) team members discovered Mooney in a chute above Tamarac Lake; he is believed to have fallen approximately 30 feet.

SAR teams have been searching for Mooney since approximately 10:30PM on August 20^th, after Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch was notified of an overdue hiker.  Mooney’s last communication came around noon on the 20^th when he contacted family from Round Valley Peak and said he would be home in a couple of hours.

Agencies assisting in the search were Inyo County Search and Rescue, California Highway Patrol helicopter H-80 out of Apple Valley, Mono County Search and Rescue, and China Lake Mountain Rescue Group.