Inyo County Sheriff’s Department news release

Update- 2:00pm- Missing hiker, Sheryl Powell was located alive by ground search team members near the Montenegro Springs area (below where her dog was located earlier today).

Powell hospital

Searchers describe her as resilient and strong but exhausted after being lost in an extremely remote area above Big Pine, CA.

Mrs Powell was met at the Bishop Airport by ambulance and will be taken to the local hospital for medical clearance.

“From ABC News: Powell’s family says she got lost after being chased off a trail by a man with a knife. Her son told ABC News that Powell left the campsite to take her dog for a short walk. Greg Powell says his mother told him she was chased by a knife-wielding man and got lost running away from him.”

We are beyond grateful for the continued support from her family, local residents, visitors, and the media. We also cannot thank our assisting agencies enough for their amazingly hard work in difficult terrain throughout this 4-day search.

Update- 11:30am– searchers have located a dog matching the description of the dog that was with missing camper Sheryl Powell. The dog is alive, and was located 2.5 miles from Mrs. Powell’s last known location. Updates to follow.

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Missing Camper, Day Four

*If you choose to post comments we ask that you make them substantive and relevant – this is a sensitive case and our audience should be aware the Mrs. Powell’s family and friends are reading these posts. Unkind posts DO NOT help searchers or loved ones.

GRANDVIEW CAMPGROUND, CA. July 15, 2019 – Today is day four of a massive multiagency search for missing camper, Sheryl Powell. Powell and her small 5-pound dog were reported missing by her husband on July 12 from the Grandview Campground in the Bristlecone Pine Forest area.

After selecting a remote campsite, Sheryl Powell (a 60 year old woman from Huntington Beach) exited the vehicle to take the dog out for a bathroom break while Mr. Powell re-positioned their Jeep. Mr. Powell could not locate Mrs. Powell or their dog once he parked the Jeep. After searching for almost an hour, Mr. Powell alerted law enforcement through his satellite device.

Mrs. Powell is described as an experienced hiker – she is 5’3”, 120 pounds, brown hair, and brown eyes. The small dog has a red leash and is black/white.

Inyo Search and Rescue and Inyo Sheriff began searching immediately after receiving the notification on July 12. Searching continued on July 13 and 14 with trained search and rescue teams assisting from throughout California*.

In addition to ground search teams, dog teams have also been deployed to the area, and aerial reconnaissance has been provided Naval Air out of Lemoore, CHP-Inland Division Air Operations (equipped with a FLIR device in order to detect thermal imaging), CHP-Central Division Air Operations, and California National Guard.

Challenges include multiple gullies, shale slopes, low shade, direct sun, and rattlesnakes. Grandview Campground is located at 8,600 feet and is the closest campground to the ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.

The investigations portion of the Powell search continues; Sheriff’s Investigations have determined that Mr. Powell is not connected to Mrs. Powell’s disappearance. The family has been, and continues to be, extremely cooperative.

Please contact the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office at (760) 878-0383, option 4 if you have any information that can assist in locating missing camper, Sheryl Powell.

*List of assisting search groups: Inyo SAR, Mono SAR, China Lake Mountain Rescue Group, Fresno SAR, Riverside SAR, Tulare SAR, El Dorado SAR, Mariposa SAR, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office/Antelope Valley SAR, San Diego Mountain Rescue Team, Southern-Kern County SAR, Sierra Madre SAR, Placer County SAR, CA Rescue Dog Association.

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UPDATE– July 14, day 3 of massive multiagency search for missing camper Sheryl Powell. Agencies participating include: Inyo SAR, Mono SAR, China Lake Mountain Rescue Group, Fresno SAR, Riverside SAR, Tulare SAR, El Dorado SAR, Mariposa SAR, CA Rescue Dog Association, CalOES, and aerial recon provided by CHP-Central Division Air Operations.

missing hiker powell In addition to this being an active search and rescue, it is also an active investigation. If anyone has any information that can assist in locating missing camper, Sheryl Powell, please call the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office at 760-878-0383, option 4.
*Again- we are requesting that if you choose to comment you do so knowing that this is a sensitive situation. Mrs. Powell’s family and friends are reading these comments and unkind comments are not helpful to her loved ones or the searchers.

 

Inyo County Sheriff 7-13-19

Missing Camper
GRANDVIEW CAMPGROUND, CA. July 13, 2019 – At approximately 2:00pm on July 12 the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a missing camper near Grandview Campground in the Bristlecone Pine Forest area.
missing hiker
The reporting party/husband advised the Sheriff’s Office that both his wife and their dog vanished from the campground while he was re-positioning their vehicle.
After selecting a campsite, Sheryl Powell (a 60 year old woman from Huntington Beach) exited the vehicle to take the dog out for a bathroom break while Mr. Powell re-positioned their Jeep.
After exiting the vehicle Mr. Powell could not locate Mrs. Powell or their small 5-pound black/white dog. After searching for almost an hour, Mr. Powell alerted law enforcement through his satellite device.
Mrs. Powell is described as an experienced hiker – she is 5’3”, 120 pounds, brown hair, and brown eyes. She may be wearing a purple top. The small dog has a red leash.
Inyo Search and Rescue and Inyo Sheriff began searching immediately after receiving the notification on July 12. Aerial reconnaissance was provided by CHP-Inland Division Air Operations. CHP H-80 was equipped with a FLIR device as well in order to detect thermal imaging.
Today ground resources were provided by Inyo SAR, Mono SAR and China Lake Mountain Rescue Group. Aerial reconnaissance is provided by Naval Air out of Lemoore, and CHP-Inland Division Air Operations.
Please contact the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office at (760) 878-0383 if you have any information that can assist in locating missing camper, Sheryl Powell.
*We ask that you keep your comments constructive and kind. Mrs. Powell’s family is very concerned for her, and unkind comments do not help the searchers or the family.
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