Missing Rock Collector
June 7, 2025
Desert Palms, CA
2025-021
Written by: David Bever
RMRU was contacted to help with a search just after midnight and to be at a briefing at 7am in a remote desert area north of Desert Palms, CA. The reporting party (RP) indicated that the subject frequented this area on occasion to collect rocks and was last seen by her on Thursday June 5th at 1100hrs. On Friday June 6th at 0430hrs, the subject called the RP indicating his vehicle was stuck in the sand and that he was attempting to dig his tires out with a shovel. The subject also called a friend for help on June 6th at 1300 hours requesting assistance. On June 6th at 2000hrs the RP drove to the area and began searching but was unable to locate the subject and notified the Sheriff’s Department on June 6th at 2200hrs. The subject, a 75- year-old male, was in good health with only minor medical conditions.
RMRU and DSSAR members met at the Thermal Sheriff’s station at 0700hrs for briefing. RSO aviation assets were grounded due to fog. CHP fixed wing aircraft A61 was available and responded to assist with the search. Two (2) 4X4 DSSAR vehicles along with a few RMRU personal vehicles capable of driving in the terrain were designated for field deployment. Teams comprised of RMRU and DSSAR members were established, with RMRU taking command.
Richard was Incident Commander (IC) and Dave was Base Operations. The teams began moving to their Search areas from Base when a reporting party via 911 indicated he was with a possible deceased individual in the general area of our missing subject.
CHP fixed wing A61 arrived overhead and located the new reporting party and subject’s vehicle. With A61’s guidance, a DSSAR 4X4 vehicle with crew members from CalFire made their way to the subject and pronounced him deceased at 0830 hrs.
RMRU and DSSAR search and rescue members wish to extend our sympathies to the subject’s friends and family.
RMRU Members involved: (David Altenburg, Chad Becker, David Bever, Alex Cochran, Matt Frenken, Andy Hayt, Dave Kosmal, Geoffrey Marshall, Guillaume Plateau, Stephanie Robertson, Solan Watts, and Richard Yocum}
Other Agencies Involved: (DSSAR, RSO SERT, RSO Thermal, CHP Aviation, Cal Fire, AMR)