Camp Connell, CA…Law Enforcement, Emergency Personnel and now the coroner & tow trucks are on grisly scene on Hwy 4 just west of Forest Road 7N09. Official reports are not in but a vehicle of the same model and color of the missing woman has been found off the roadway. She may have impacted or swerved to avoid a deer and went off the south shoulder of the roadway and impacted a tree 8-10 feet off the ground. Damage to the vehicle was severe and it appears her dog perished with her.
Again this is just raw observations and from talking to personnel at the scene. Details will no doubt change when CHP Officers have finished their reports.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family. Her friends actually made the sad discovery. Keep them and the law enforcement, coroner & tow operators in your thoughts. The scene of this one will leave impressions that will take a long time to fade.
Earlier details from the Alpine County Sheriff’s Office
Catherine Feist (Donovan) Is Missing
Bear Valley, CA…Catherine Feist (Donovan), White female, with brown hair, 52 years old. Vehicle is a blue-gray 2005 Subaru. She has her dog “Trixie” with her; a black and white border collie. Last heard from Wednesday, 7/1/15 at 1645 hours while en route from San Francisco to Bear Valley, where she has a cabin. She was supposed to meet friends here but did not show up. Her phone was last used in the Arnold/Dorrington area at around 2000 hours on 7/1/15.
A Missing Person Report has been filed with us (Alpine County S.O.) and she has been entered into the National Missing Persons System.
Such sad news, something we were praying wouldn’t be. Now to pray for first responders and family and friends.
Incredibly sad…prayers for all who loved her , found her, and recovered her…RIP with your dog Trixie , so very sorry .
[RE.] to : I believe my prayers were to a greater Xtent , answered ; the probable cause of “Catherine’s” passing was do to her goodness ; (the avoidance of killing a harmless animal) . Both God’s creatures , he reclaimed “Catherine” , for reasons unknown but to himself . I for one ask not why ! As for my praying ? I will continue ….. !
Love and will bee missed. Oh the sorrow! BEE GOOD and remember GOD know’s! RIP
I’m Catherine’s ex-husband and I would like to thank The Pine Tree and all of you for your prayers and kind words. Thank you also to Alpine County Sheriff’s office, CHP, and the Highway 4 emergency crews, for your hard work and true concern.
Catherine loved Bear Valley and the Stanislaus and Mokolumne basins. She hiked, biked, skied, and paddled every inch of it. It is a consolation that she died in a place she truly loved, and close to friends who shared her passion.
Very, Very sorry for your loss.
I would also like to thank the The Pine Tree for this coverage. As one of Catherine’s oldest friends and living in her homeland of New Zealand, I was desperate for some news, even after receiving the sad email on that Sunday evening here, and your reporting filled that gap.
Vince, I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am at your loss. You were closer to Cathy in recent years than we were down here, but I think I’d be right in saying that she would have appreciated me shedding a few tears on Sunday night – while she also would have appreciated the fact that I wasn’t blubbing for days on end. Such was her full-on approach to life.