After nearly two weeks of intense searching, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office reported a positive turn in the case of Esmeralda Marie Pineda, the 24-year-old Sacramento woman who went missing in late August. Pineda was found atop a river canyon near the Yuba River and Sweetland Creek in Nevada City, as disclosed by the Nevada County Sheriff's Office via Facebook. Located at 12:41 p.m. on Sept. 6, she was found in a state of severe dehydration and emaciation. "The Sheriff's Office and our search and rescue volunteers covered extensive ground throughout our search, and we are thankful today to find her alive," Sergeant Dustin Moe stated.
Efforts to rescue Pineda were expedited upon discovery. Severely requiring immediate medical attention, the deputies coordinated a life flight, to which the California Highway Patrol heeded the call, responding with their helicopter. Adding their support, North San Juan Fire Department firefighters responded to the medical emergency. By 1:20 p.m., Pineda was airlifted from the hazardous terrain and transported to a local hospital for treatment. The full extent of her condition remains undisclosed at this time.
The search for Pineda commenced on Aug. 26 after she was reported missing from a mining camp, as shared by Hoodline. Reported to have been last seen in the area between 9 and 10 a.m., her disappearance sparked concern and initiated a search deemed crucial by law enforcement cooperating with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team. Pineda is said to have been attempting to make her way back to Sacramento and was classified as at-risk.
Standing at 5 feet 8 inches and weighing 169 pounds, Pineda, who has brown hair and hazel eyes, was attired in "a black sweatshirt, floral leggings, tennis shoes and a black Swiss backpack" at the time of her disappearance as previously mentioned on Hoodline. The authorities, recognizing the critical nature of community involvement in such circumstances, previously solicited any information from the public. With the ordeal now at an end, the Nevada County Sheriff's Office has not yet disclosed whether community tips aided in the discovery of Pineda.
