February 16, 2025 – Monterey County Sheriff’s Office officials report that the Search and Rescue Team has located and recovered the body of a person that had been reported missing earlier in the day in Garland Ranch Regional Park.

Shortly after 12:00 Noon on Friday, February 15th, Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputies and Rangers with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District were made aware of a 77-year-old male subject that was missing and last known to be in the Garland Ranch Regional Park. The family of the missing subject stated that he had been walking in the park at about 9:30 A.M. and lost his dog. He told the family that he would be searching for his dog and was last heard from him at about 10:30 A.M. At about 11:00 A.M., hikers in the area located the missing person’s dog and returned it to its home nearby.

Due to health and safety concerns, a search for the missing person was started by Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Rangers. Assistance was requested from Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Monterey County Search and Rescue team, Monterey Regional Fire District Firefighters, the Carmel Valley CERT team and California Highway Patrol’s H70 helicopter. 

Search crews located the missing person's body in the Carmel River. Due to his location, swift water recovery efforts were coordinated between the Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team and Monterey County Regional Fire District personnel.

The missing person has been identified as 77-year-old Steven Sherwood of Carmel Valley.

Source: Monterey County Sheriff’s Office