Search & Recovery in Death Valley
Update on Death Valley Body Recovery
[UPDATE: 4/07/2020- Sierra Wave spoke with the Inyo County Coroner’s Office to follow-up on this story. We found out the following: The decedent was William David Namahoe, a 55-years-old single male from Modesto, Calif. with family in Tracy. He reportedly worked at Costco and was described as someone who enjoyed hiking, biking, and the outdoors.]
Search & Recovery in Death Valley
(Press Release – Inyo County Sheriff – 4/06/2020)
DEATH VALLEY, CA. April 6, 2020 – On April 4, in the afternoon, Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch was notified of a possible deceased person found by a hiking party of three near the base of Manly Beacon out of the Zabriskie Point trailhead, Death Valley National Park.
Inyo Sheriff SAR in Death Valley
An Inyo County Sheriff’s Deputy and Death Valley Rangers responded. Rangers located the body and determined the subject was deceased. It is believed that the individual fell approximately 300 feet from Manly Beacon. Due to lack of sufficient resources and time, a recovery was not attempted that evening.
On April 5, Inyo County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Coordinators, Inyo County Search and Rescue, and Death Valley National Park Rangers responded. CHP Inland Division Air Operations (H-82) from Apple Valley also responded to assist. Ground teams recovered the body from its position up a steep and loose draw. H-82 hoisted the decedent by air and transferred the body to the Inyo County Coroner’s Office.
Sheriff SAR Death Valley April _4-06-2020 (02)
A rental vehicle was located at the trailhead; NPS Rangers reported the vehicle as being there for about three days prior to the discovery of the decedent. The identity of the recovered body is still pending positive identification by the Inyo County Coroner’s office.
Currently, Death Valley National Park is closed to all recreation other than highway through-travel. A reminder: do not participate in risky outdoor recreation at this time due to emergency medical care being prioritized by COVID-19 patients and limited rescue resources.
Hello Fredlyn, I wish I can say that I met your brother during his time on Earth, because based on the comments above, I think we have a lot in common. I am terribly sorry for your loss and I wish you and your own family peace. Thank you for… Read more »
I am so saddened by the comments that I am reading here, “Sick of it already”. I googled William’s name, because that’s how we know him in our household. And we pray for his family everyday. Because my family found this beautiful soul in the desert, and I am so… Read more »
Sarah Schwartz I am William’s (Bill) sister. We had heard that a family had met him earlier in the week and went back to that spot on Friday, and found him. I want to thank you and your family for helping in the recovery of William. We did not find… Read more »
I can speak for just about everyone at work we will truly miss billy and work will never be the same Thank you for all the laughs, pictures of Charles and all the lemon bars cookies and brownies any one can ask for , I dont think I can put… Read more »
I am one of Bill’s sisters and I wanted everyone to know what a great man Bill was… Bill was always making a plate of food at our holiday dinners and taking it to a homeless person, sitting and talking to that person because Bill did not want that person… Read more »
So sorry to hear of our friend Fredlyn.
This thread is a textbook example of the disagreement that I had with Bennett when I facilitated the construction of this blog many years ago. I argued that pseudonyms should not have their comments published unless those comments contain information pertaining to the content of the story and publishing the… Read more »
Kuydo’s to you , Russ. I’ve never commented without using my own name. Those who so willingly spout their opinion'(s) behind a fake identity are cowards & have no business barking .
I am Bill’s niece, and this time has been extremely difficult for our family, friends and everyone my uncle loved. It is easy for anyone to hide behind a computer screen and say heartless and ignorant things. There is too much negativity in the world, especially at a time like… Read more »
Meanwhile, on Facebook (which led me here), friends are mourning this man’s passing. He was very much cared for. Heartbroken is the most-used word to describe their feelings.
Kathy Melendez Please don’t take it to heart or let his disgusting comments upset you,or think the rest of us up here in the Owens Valley think even close to the same way about the things he writes. He’s a punk looking for negative attention saying what he did and… Read more »
David Dennison, Please don’t apologise for me. For your information I am a Grandma(not transgender) have hiked all over inyo and mono counties, and still haven’t made that 300 foot fall, because I know my ablities. Oh, and I wrote that post because I wanted to take my Grandkids camping… Read more »
well, grandma, you sound full of hate. We’re all frustrated with the closures, which have to do with keeping non-locals away. Lots of activities that locals should be able to do, have been restricted for those reasons. Not fair, but what option do they have?
first of all, ok boomer! i’m quite disgusted by what you have been saying on here, you don’t even know the whole story. death valley closed an hour and a half BEFORE he was found, due to COVID-19, and I know this as a fact because i am one of… Read more »
I want to thank you and your family for finding our brother. At first I didn’t want to read the disgusting comments made about my brother, but as I continued to read.. 99% were very beautiful comments. I know my brother would not care about the terrible comments, because William… Read more »
According to the NPS, Death Valley’s closure (except for through traffic) is due to concern about Covid-19. https://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm There is no mention on that website of the unfortunate death of Mr. Namahoe. Your comments are irrelevant to the situation and offensive to his family and friends. I hope you can… Read more »
Sick of it already! The fact that you are a grandmother, and have the responsibility of hopefully showing your grandchildren the difference between right and wrong, I am disgusted at your words and the fact you try to justify them. I’ve known Bill, that’s right he has a name, since… Read more »
Sick of it Already! That “dead guy” is someone’s son, brother & friend. You know nothing about him or what happened that caused him to fall. How dare you post something so callous and uncaring. I dare you to look at his 80 year old mother in her tearful eyes… Read more »
I agree, the punk who “is sick of it” is a classless fool! Would love to meet u in person so we could talk! I’ve known Bill since the 4th grade and we have been brothers for many years. I’ve spent the past two days at his mom’s house trying… Read more »
We love you billy from all of us at the guard station Costco 172 179
We drivers love and miss you too Billy from the Costco fleet office 179
RIP BILLY. WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU BUDDY!
Billy was a great dude. All-around good person and is missed deeply. As a neighbor, you get to know a lot about a person and he was a rare breed in this ugly world. He was always willing to lend a helping hand.
Bill was a very experienced hiker. And God decided to bring him home during a time he was doing what he enjoyed most! Please have respect in posting about my brother thanks!jeffc.
Well,”sick of it already”,judging from your “likes and dislikes” on your 5 posts above,last count this morning 9-56,and sure to go up, think most of us are “sick of YOU already”. But I and we know your type here. You got what you wanted,that being stupid,insulting posts looking for negative… Read more »
Sorry DDennison, I’m a Grandma, (not a transgender either!) you who knows all and sees all. Thanks for all your assumptions about me and my opinions, that says a lot about you, and everything you hate. My opinions aren’t formed by what people like you think, or actually what anybody… Read more »
His name is Kemo, to his friends. Last person in the world to harsh anyone’s mellow…If you’re burdened by the events surrounding his passing, chill. You will have ample time to backcountry explore the beautiful terrain of his final scene.Rest in Peace, Kemo…
To all you people out there, I knew this guy he was a very nice guy always went hiking .yeah he had an accident in death valley national Park but he’s not stupid never was stupid .Yes he made a mistake Yes he should have stayed at home but he… Read more »
Oh David Dennison, do you have a problem with Trump? I’m sure you think he hatched the virus all by himself. I wonder what a liberal like you is doing up here in God’s country. People like you have ruined Inyo and Mono County. Like Mono says, none of these… Read more »
ok boomer. bet you’ve got a homemade trump sign in your front dirt.
Mono Person You sound more and more like trump with each of your posts. So you want to wait until the pandemic hits Inyo and Mono Counties hard,with deaths before you start to realize there’s a problem ? Is this an Inyo and Mono County “hoax” or some kind of… Read more »
I’m actually a libertarian, so this whole government intervention into my life is kinda hard on me. Relax the name calling…
Dear Mono Person,
Two words.
Hospital capacity.
Get a clue.
There is no one with Coronavirus in Mammoth Hospital – what about the Inyo Hospital? What about those ships docked? Hardly any beds used.
Oh, and try to be nice. We all have a difference of opinion.
JUST FOR EVERYONES INFORMATION: this happens to be a close family friend!! For all you so called people that have any kind of compassion.. KEEP YOUR RUDE DISGUSTING comments to yourself. Think of it as if this was one of your loved ones. Have some respect PLEASE for his family… Read more »
Dear Duckhead, No one in Inyo County that tested positive for Covid is hospitalized, all were sent home. Not sure @ Mono, but I think they are all home too. Most of us locals figure Covid already made its first pass through Mammoth in early February. Of course no one… Read more »
I bet there is a lot more deaths last year at this time than this time of year, just due to us staying home. But we also need to take into consideration, was it economically worth it? And it is not black and white – money vs. death. There are… Read more »
One stupid falls off a rock and the rest of us can’t even backcountry camp in Death Valley, thanks dead guy!
The fact is, people fall off rocks, cliffs, even walking across flat ground all the time. It’s a leading cause of injury in people. How many times have we read a story about a climber, a hiker, or someone just out for a nice day in the outdoors. falling and… Read more »
Sorry, Charles, you need to clear your head. Falling off a rock is stupid. Falling off a rock when you are by yourself (even stupider) ever hear about the buddy system? That guy made a stupid decision to climb the rock. If it wasn’t stupid, he would be alive. Or… Read more »
Just a note for you, people can and do die while walking on flat ground. I have a perfect example, my husband bumped his knee on our truck and it caused him to pass out and bash his head on an asphalt parking lot in the city. It was a… Read more »
You do realize that this person’s family is able to read this, don’t you? How selfish must one be to have such a pathetic view of this person’s death. I sincerely hope you find some sort of peace in your life because speak like one who has none.
“Sick of it Already” So you think they closed down Death Valley National Park because a climber fell to his death off of a cliff ?..come on,man..”the rest of us ” ?, and me,me,me ? Have you been watching the news lately” It’s probably because the mass exodus of SoCal… Read more »
Areas that are closed are where tourist go. There’s still plenty of places to get outdoor. Now get off the web and go walk your dog.
Butermilk
I was born and raised in Bishop, and everyone called it the Buttermilks, or even *gasp* the ‘Milks when I was growing up. Calling the area – or more specifically the plural boulders – ‘Buttermilk’ sounds weird. Get over it.
“Mass exodus” ? “Big city thinking” ? Have you seen the highways/freeways lately ? They’re barren parking lots…And as far as your Big city thinking, I’d bet that probably more than half of the population of Mono/Inyo counties weren’t born there, meaning being a transplant doesn’t make you a country… Read more »
HB man If not another SoCaler came up to this area,personally,it wouldn’t effect my job or income one red cent.. You state your “highways/freeways “are barren parking lots. Well,yeah,judging from areas up here now,there’s nobody down there anymore…there all up here”visiting” and “spending their money” ( where? ). Sounds to… Read more »
Dear Dennison, Are you retired? On the dole? Or a government drone (same as on the dole)? Give it up. Dennison isn’t any old time Inyo name, so? Are you independently wealthy?Or what? Ever heard the term public lands? Death Valley, forest service, and BLM are public lands. Not just… Read more »