[Update] Day Five on the Eel River: Sheriff Calls Recovery a ‘Little Win’ in a ‘Terrible Situation’

On the fifth day of recovery operations following the crash that sent a couple into the Eel River off Highway 162 last Tuesday, search crews including volunteer kayakers* located the body of Yvonne Niesen at about 2 p.m. today, according to Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall. The discovery came just hours before rain was expected to move back into the area.

Family members had identified the couple yesterday as Gary and Yvonne Niesen. On day four of the operation, crews located the submerged vehicle and recovered Gary’s body from the river but had not located Yvonne before the search was suspended last night.

Today, search teams continued working downstream from the crash site. “The body was found roughly five miles downriver from the crash site,” Kendall told Redheaded Blackbelt in a phone interview.

According to Kendall, crews had been methodically searching the river corridor when Yvonne was located.

Conditions along the river were harsh and deteriorating. “Yeah, we’re just now starting to get a few raindrops out on the river [now], but the wind [today was] just howling out there, man, it was so cold,” Kendall said.

Divers and swift water rescue crews repeatedly entered the frigid river, then climbed out into cutting wind, Kendall explained.

Kendall said responders understood they were racing incoming weather. Rain was forecast to begin this afternoon, threatening to raise river levels and further complicate search conditions. He said the teams that responded pushed themselves in brutal conditions, knowing the window was narrowing, determined to bring closure to Gary and Yvonne’s family.

The operation drew extensive mutual aid. In addition to Mendocino County crews, Kendall said assistance came from Humboldt search and rescue and technical rescue teams, swift water crews from Butte County and Marin, veteran diver Juan Heredia, and drone pilots from Sonoma County who flew the river searching for any signs of the missing couple or debris from the crash.

Beyond the physical toll, Kendall emphasized the emotional weight of the operation. The sheriff, who grew up in the Covelo area, noted that the Niesen family is large and deeply rooted in the region, with family members serving in fire, EMS, and medical roles.

“All of us are connected to that family, through one way or another. A lot of us grew up together, but then a lot of the folks out there working had worked with their children, their grandchildren and their great grandchildren” Kendall said.

He described the outcome as tragic, but meaningful for the family and community.

“It’s not great news. I mean, it’s still tragic news, but it’s the best that we can hope for in a terrible situation, so we’ll take that as a little win.”

Here at Redheaded Blackbelt, we extend our condolences to Gary and Yvonne’s family and friends, and to the broader community grieving their loss. We also extend our gratitude to the many responders — including volunteers — who worked in brutal conditions to bring them home.

*Note: This article has been updated after it was originally published to reflect that Sheriff Kendall later clarified that the search crews included civilian volunteers today.

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UPDATE from the family:

To the people of Covelo /Round Valley, family and friends.
I wanted to share that Yvonne has been found.

Today, on day 5 of searching, at approximately 1400 near mile marker 14.1 on Highway 162, two kayakers found Yvonne.

To the two kayakers who stopped, who noticed, who stepped forward, our deepest thank you. In one of the hardest moments of our lives, you helped bring our family together again and provide closure.

Because of the relentless love, labor, and commitment of this community and countless volunteers we have now been able to bring both Gary and Yvonne home. We will be able to honor them and carry out their final wishes. That is a gift we do not take lightly.

Gary and Yvonne Niesen were not only proud to call Covelo home, they were third generation members of this valley. Their roots run deep in Round Valley soil. This land shaped them, and they in turn shaped it. They spent their lives ranching, tending their gardens, working hard, and creating memories with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Covelo was not just where they lived. It was a large part of the story that shaped their lives.

In the past five days, we have witnessed what community truly means. We have seen volunteers become family. We have felt prayers carried on the wind. We have watched people drop everything to stand alongside us.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Butte County Sheriff’s Office, OES, CAL FIRE, Marin County Search and Rescue, Mendocino County Search and Rescue, Southern Humboldt Rescue Team, Rescue Solutions, Butte County Swift Water Team, Diver Juan and Mercedes, CHP, Caltrans, Hopland Fire, Ukiah Valley Fire Authority, Laytonville Fire, South Coast Fire, Little Lake Fire, Albion Fire, Potter Valley Fire, Sonoma County Fire, Sonoma Valley Fire, Santa Rosa Fire, Ridgewood Ranch Fire, Med Star Ambulance, Adventist Health, Bravo, Anker Lucier, and All In One Towing, along with the many additional volunteers and fire agencies who responded, searched, supported, and backfilled so others could help.

To Diver Juan and Mercedes, thank you for finding Gary and for assisting us throughout this long day. You gave our family a miracle.

If we have missed anyone, please know it is not intentional. Every person who prayed, searched, called, texted, brought food, or simply held space for us has been part of carrying us through.

We are heartbroken, but we are forever grateful. This valley stood with us, and we will carry that love with us for the rest of our lives.

With all of our gratitude and very heavy hearts,
The Niesen Family
Buckingham Family

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Want to Support the Teams Who Show Up When It Matters?

Many of the responders who worked in brutal river conditions are volunteers or partially volunteer-supported organizations. If you feel moved to contribute, here’s how you can support some of the teams involved:

Mendocino County Search and Rescue (Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office SAR)
Volunteer-based search and rescue team serving Mendocino County.
🔗 Donate: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/sheriff-coroner/search-and-rescue

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue
Volunteer SAR unit serving Humboldt County.
🔗 Donate: https://humboldtsar.org/donate/

Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue (SoHum TRS)
All-volunteer technical rescue team serving Southern Humboldt and beyond.
🔗 Donate: Donate to make a difference through Zeffy.com 

Eel River Technical Rescue
Volunteer swift water and technical rescue team serving the Eel River region.
🔗 Check their official Facebook page for current donation options: https://www.facebook.com/EelRiverValleyTechnicalRescue

Butte County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue / Swiftwater Rescue
Volunteer rescue unit assisting throughout Northern California.
🔗 Information & Support: https://www.buttecounty.net/sheriff/Volunteer/SearchAndRescue

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office – Henry 1 / Search & Rescue Support
Provides aviation and search support, including drone operations.
🔗 Support the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Foundation: https://sonomasheriff.org/foundation

Juan Heredia – Diver & Recovery Specialist
Juan Heredia, widely known for his underwater search and recovery work across the country, assisted in this operation. His missions are often self-funded and supported by community donations.

🔗 Follow & Support: Facebook 
🔗 Official Website & Donations: https://angelsrecoverydiveteam.org

If you’re so inclined, contributing to these organizations helps ensure trained crews, specialized equipment, and rapid response when our rural communities face emergencies.

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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
• Breaking News: Fourth Day of River Search Brings New Development in Case of Missing Covelo Couple
• After Four Days, River Gives Up Vehicle of Covelo Couple
• [UPDATE 8:58 a.m.] Juan Heredia Assists in Ongoing Eel River Search for Missing Covelo Woman