Breaking News: Fourth Day of River Search Brings New Development in Case of Missing Covelo Couple

[Stock image of Navy Diver during his dive to search for a missing soldier 2009. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Matthew sourced from Wikimedia Commons.] 

Today marks the fourth consecutive day of searching by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and supporting agencies, who have worked in cold, swift, and muddy river conditions as they attempt to recover the vehicle before a new storm system is forecast to swell the river again.

According to Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall, searchers using a magnet believe they have identified the vehicle’s location in the river. However, dive teams called in to assist must now confirm the magnet hit by entering the swift, murky water.

Because of river conditions and the technical complexity of the recovery, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has requested divers from outside the immediate area, including teams from Marin and Humboldt counties. Those divers are expected to confirm the vehicle before any attempt is made to extract it.

River levels have dropped today due to colder temperatures, which Kendall said have significantly reduced snowmelt and improved access. The temporary drop in water levels has provided a narrow window for recovery efforts, though swift water conditions remain a concern.

Authorities are also managing traffic in the narrow river corridor, where road shoulders are limited and currently occupied by sheriff’s vehicles and search and rescue crews. One-way traffic control is in place, and officials are asking motorists to use caution in the area and avoid slowing or stopping in ways that could impede operations.

“There’s no place to park,” Kendall said, explaining that additional vehicles from people hoping to watch could interfere directly with recovery operations. If the vehicle is confirmed and crews move forward with extraction, officials anticipate a full road closure while heavy equipment is brought in.

With additional rainfall expected in the coming days, officials are working to complete confirmation and recovery efforts before rising water once again complicates operations over the weekend.

Redheaded Blackbelt will provide further updates once dive teams complete their assessment.

Earlier: 

• Authorities Respond to Possible Submerged Vehicle off Highway 162; Occupancy Unknown
• Search Efforts Resume After Vehicle Plunges into Eel River on SR-162
• River Runs High as Covelo Community Waits for Answers
• Search for Missing Covelo Couple Suspended for Third Day as Crews Battle Swift River Conditions