A month-long search for a California mother and her 8-month-old daughter has ended in tragedy after they were found dead inside their submerged SUV. Whisper Owen, 36, and her daughter Sandra McCarty had been missing since July 15, when Owen drove from Sacramento to Fresno for a doctor's appointment and to visit family. She was last seen leaving Fresno that evening but never arrived home.
On Sunday, the pair were discovered inside their 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer, submerged in a canal under a bridge on Highway 120 near Oakdale, California, according to KXTV. The family reported that Owen's phone had last pinged on Victory Avenue and Highway 120.
Adventures with Purpose, a nonprofit that searches waterways for missing people, assisted in the search. Using sonar technology, the volunteer team located the vehicle and confirmed two bodies inside. Searchers noted evidence suggesting Owen made a desperate attempt to save her daughter. “It appears as though Whisper was making her way to the backseat to save her daughter, Sandra,” Jared Leisek of Adventures with Purpose told KXTV.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office confirmed the discovery. “Our dive team has responded, and they did locate one adult in the vehicle and one infant in the vehicle,” Heather Brent of the sheriff's office said. The family is grieving but determined to honour their memory. “They were beautiful people who made a very big difference in this world,” said Richard Owen, Whisper's brother. A GoFundMe has been set up to help with funeral costs.
The Fresno Police Department and California Highway Patrol are investigating the circumstances of the deaths and how the car ended up in the water.
