Two Search and Rescue Operations Conclude Successfully
August 22, 2024 – Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office officials report that last week, on Monday morning, August 12, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) responded to the area of Cottonwood Road to search for 41-year-old John Avila, who had been reported missing that day. Searchers did not locate Avila on Monday, and additional mutual aid resources were requested. On Tuesday, over 40 SAR personnel from 5 agencies searched for Avila along roadways, trails, and forested areas. Avila was located Tuesday afternoon by SAR personnel approximately a mile and a half from the location of his truck along a very brushy area of Basin Creek. Searchers cut a trail through the brush and assisted Avila out of the creek and up the steep hillside where he was taken by ambulance to the hospital.
Just after the search for Avila concluded, SAR responded directly from the Avila Search to Lyons Reservoir for a report 64-year-old Beth Watson was missing from the area after going for a walk with her white German shepherd Merle. Over 30 SAR personnel began to look for Watson. When Watson was not located, additional mutual aid was requested, and SAR personnel from 7 agencies, including air support, continued to assist on Wednesday. After another day of searching with no sign of Watson, additional mutual aid was requested.
Thursday, August 15, over 80 SAR personnel from over 15 agencies arrived. Resources included searchers, K9’s, E-bikes, OHV vehicles, and air support including UAV and helicopter. Just after 3 pm, searchers located Watson’s dog, Merle, after hearing a distressed bark in a brushy area. SAR personnel and resources were diverted to the area. Approximately 2 hours later, a SAR trailing dog team found Watson lying on the ground in heavy brush, less than 100 yards from where Merle was found.
SAR personnel began working to get Watson safely out of the area. SAR personnel secured Watson in a Stokes litter and carried her to a nearby location, where she was transported via helicopter to an ambulance. Watson later told TCSO she had left on a hike with Merle and at some point, became lost and dehydrated, which led to additional difficulty finding her way back.
We want to thank everyone who assisted throughout these operations, including the following agencies, for their support throughout these successful operations!
Marin County Sheriff SAR, California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), Placer County Sheriff SAR, Stanislaus County Sheriff Air101, Calaveras County Sheriff SAR, CAL-SAR, Santa Clara County Sheriff SAR, Lassen County Sheriff SAR, Yosemite National Park SAR, Nevada County Sheriff SAR, Contra Costa County Sheriff SAR, Bay Area Mountain Rescue, California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA), Solano County Sheriff SAR, El Dorado County Sheriff SAR, San Mateo County Sheriff SAR, Sacramento County Sheriff SAR, Merced County Sheriff SAR, Amador County Sheriff SAR, CalOEs Intel12, and California Highway Patrol.
The attached video shows images and video from both operations, including searchers assisting Avila up the steep hillside, the Marin Co. searchers that found Merle, the Placer Co. Trailing dog team that found Watson, SAR teams carrying the Stokes litter, and the Stanislaus Co. Air101 team safely evacuating Watson from the area.
View video here.
Source & photos: Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office
Missing Woman Beth Watson and Her German Shepherd Have Been Located in Tuolumne County
