Jenny Lind, CA…On 01/9/17 The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 9000 block of Opal Lane in Jenny Lind for a missing person’s report. Family members reported that Julio Gonzales (39) from Jenny Lind left his residence for work at approx. 6:00 AM on 01/09/17, driving an All-Terrain Vehicle. The family began searching for him when he did not return home at 4:30 PM. Calaveras County Search and Rescue was activated and searched the area along the Calaveras River, which runs through the property. Searchers located Mr. Gonzales’ ATV in the river, but were unable to locate him. The search efforts were continually hampered by the wet weather and flooding in the area.

On 02/03/17 the Calaveras Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from Mr. Gonzales’ family who reported that they possibly located the missing person on the riverbank several hundred yards downstream from where he likely fell into the river. Calaveras County Search and Rescue personnel were deployed to the scene and located Mr. Gonzales deceased in the water near the riverbank, where he was recovered. There were no signs of foul play. It appears that Mr. Gonzalez suffered an accidental drowning when he fell into and was swept away by the river’s fast-moving current.