Twain Harte, CA…Yesterday afternoon, our office received a missing person report from 60-year-old Russel Lee Hedge of Twain Harte. Hedge told deputies he had taken an elderly female camping in Herring Creek on December 3rd, but she had gone missing during the camping trip.

Our office immediately activated the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team to conduct a search of the area where the victim was last seen. After hours of searching, the victim was not located. TCSAR continued their search this morning and unfortunately located the victim deceased in the area.

Due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident, detectives were called to take over the investigation. Detectives learned the victim was suffering from several ailments and had difficulty caring for herself. Hedge, along with 51-year-old Timothy Scott Hoblitt of Twain Harte, had taken the victim camping on December 3. Hedge and Hoblitt left the victim on her own, without any form of transportation, on December 4. Due to knowing about the freezing overnight temperatures, Hedge and Hoblitt returned to the campsite on December 5 to retrieve the victim, but did not locate her. Instead of calling law enforcement for assistance, the two gathered the victims belongings and left the area.

Detectives were able to obtain a search warrant to Hedge’s home. During the service of the search warrant, the victims belongings, including her purse and cell phone, were located. Detectives ultimately arrested both Hedge and Hoblitt for involuntary manslaughter and elder abuse resulting in death. Hedge and Hoblitt were booked into the county jail without incident.

The victim’s identity will not be released until notification has been made to the victims family. The victims cause of death is pending an autopsy.

We are looking for any potential witnesses who may have been in the Herring Creek area between December 3rd and December 6th. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Donaldson at 209-694-2910.