After an extensive search that lasted for two months, the body of Jomarie Calasanz, a 26-year-old woman from La Puente who went missing in Sequoia National Park, was recovered from the Kaweah River on July 24. According to a KTLA report, Calasanz was swept away by the river's strong currents while she was enjoying the park with friends on May 25.
The recovery operation involved multiple agencies, including the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and the Sequoia National Park Service, who faced challenges such as unsafe river conditions and technical terrain. In a statement obtained by CBS News, officials noted that the search had to be scaled down on June 5 but continued with the aid of drones, canines, and underwater cameras.
Efforts intensified in July when a point of high interest was identified less than a mile downstream from where Calasanz was last seen. Despite dangerous water flows, the search persisted, with the first safe opportunity to conduct a thorough search presenting itself on July 24. The Tulare County Coroner's Office confirmed the identity of the recovered body on July 28.
"I am extremely grateful for the coordination, support, and determination by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and our NPS team, in the continued search for Jomarie," Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Superintendent Clay Jordan was quoted as saying on the park’s Facebook page. The joint statement by the National Park Services and the sheriff's office also extended condolences to Calasanz's family and reminded the public of the dangers posed by rivers, even when the water appears to be flowing at lower rates.
