[UPDATE from the Humboldt CO Sheriff’s Department] Tragic End to Search for Missing Southern Humboldt Woman, Pamela Van Hoek

[Photo by Kim Cabrera]

Lt. Kyle Holt of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department confirmed to us that Pamela Van Hoek, who was reported missing yesterday, was found deceased in the area of the South Fork of the Eel River. He told us that family members have been notified of the somber outcome this afternoon.

The search for Ms. Van Hoek began in earnest yesterday morning. She had been last seen wandering on foot in the Redway area, known to be suffering from both diabetes and dementia, and without her essential medications. Some of the search efforts were concentrated around the Briceland Thorn Road at the west end of Redway, near Whitmore Grove and along the South Fork of the Eel River, where multiple search and rescue teams were deployed, including the Sheriff’s Department, the Coast Guard Helicopter, Redway Fire Department, and Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue.

The conditions during the night of her disappearance were harsh, with temperatures dropping into the 30’s and intermittent periods of rain, heightening worries about her ability to find shelter.

This morning an even more extensive search was launched, involving dogs, search teams for land and water, and a drone. The operation also included a Coast Guard helicopter scanning the South Fork of the Eel River and what reported to us as an airplane equipped with state-of-the-art infrared technology. The focus areas of the search were in the areas of Redway Beach, Whitmore Grove, and the Ravencliff areas, based on her last known location and possible directions of movement.

The discovery of Ms. Van Hoek’s body brings a tragic closure to the search operation. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department has not released further details about the circumstances of her discovery but has promised a press release later today.

Further information will be provided as it becomes available. Our hearts go out to the grieving friends and family during this difficult time.

Below are photos from the search:

UPDATE from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department:

Search and rescue teams have located Pamela Van Koek, deceased, at approximately 1215 hours.

SAR personnel utilized a U.A.V. [ a drone] which located Pamela in the Eel River near Dean Creek. The Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team was deployed to recover her body. This was a large-scale SAR that involved multiple local agencies and agencies from outside the area.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the agencies and jurisdictions involved in locating Pamela Van Hoek
.

Agencies involved:

• Redway Fire
• Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue
• Garberville Fire
• Briceland Fire
• Humboldt County Sheriff’s SAR
• The California Rescue Dog Association
• The California Office of Emergency Service
• US Coast Guard

The Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank the public for their overwhelming support during this entire effort. We encourage all who would like to get involved in future searches to consider applying for our Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Posse This is a volunteer posse that is deployed to all of our local (and many out of the area) search and rescue operations. Find out how to join here: [http://www.humboldtsar.org ].

Earlier: 

• Urgent Community Alert: Search Underway for Missing Senior Woman in Redway Area
• Search Continues for Missing Redway Woman; Search Teams, Helicopter, and Dogs Are Deployed