Pine Grove, CA…From the Amador County Sheriff’s Department…For the last several days, we’ve been searching for 79-year-old Christine Merten. Unfortunately, this morning, we found Christine deceased. She was located by a canine team in rugged, brushy terrain north of her home. The Amador County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will determine the cause of death, but we do not suspect foul play. The search for Christine included the use of hundreds of ground searchers, canine teams, mounted units, OHVs, and aircraft. We would like to thank Mace Meadows Golf Course for graciously allowing us to utilize their facilities for the past five days, and the Red Cross for their substantial efforts in supporting the searchers.

We would also like to thank and acknowledge the Search and Rescue Teams from the Sheriffs’ Offices in El Dorado County, Calaveras County, Sacramento County, San Joaquin County, Tuolumne County, Placer County, Santa Clara County, Alameda County, San Mateo County, Napa County, Nevada County, Contra Costa County; Cal OES and the Cal OES canine teams, Bay Area Mountain Rescue, American Legion Ambulance, Amador County Amateur Radio Club, and Amador County Public Works. Lastly, we want to thank our own Amador County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team, who work tirelessly to help those in peril in this community. Our thoughts are with Christine’s family and friends during this difficult time.

**** Update April 7, 2017 at 5:12 PM ****
After another extensive search for Christine, she is still missing. With the help from other teams we will continue our search efforts throughout the stormy weekend. Please keep Christine and her family in your thoughts during this time.

**** Update April 6, 2017 at 5:00 PM ****
We are still looking for Christine. We have brought in several Search and Rescue and Canine Teams to help us with the search. Our detectives conducted several interviews with family and friends today including flagging her financial records. We appreciate the overwhelming community support and support from the allied agencies participating in the search.

**** Update April 5, 2017 at 4:07 PM ****
We are still searching for Christine. At this point she has been missing for approximately 23 hours. We have used a drone with thermal imagery, helicopters, a canine and trained ground searchers. We have entered her information into the Missing Persons System, we have utilized Code Red, issued a Silver Alert and provided information to the media. Many of us have gotten to know this very sweet lady over the years, and we are not surprised by the many offers from the public to accept search assignments and join in the efforts. Unfortunately, we are precluded from accepting those offers due to liability reasons. We would ask that everyone stay vigilant and report any possible sightings. We have received several today and have followed up on every one of them, albeit without finding Christine. Please keep Christine and her family and friends in your thoughts.

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Please help us find Christine Merten and bring her home to her family. Christine is 79-years-old and she was last seen in the area of McKenzie Drive in Pioneer around 4pm today. Her family believes she walked away from the home. She suffers from Alzheimer’s and is considered at risk. Christine is 5’3”, 140 pounds, has white hair, and was last seen wearing a gray flowered sweatshirt and khaki pants. The Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue Team will be working through the night to find Christine. If you see Christine please call 911 or contact the Sheriff’s Office at 209-223-6500 with any information. Also, we ask you to SHARE this post with your family and friends. Thanks for your help.