San Andreas, CA…Deputies and Search and Rescue volunteers from multiple agencies including Calaveras, Tuolumne, Amador, Stanislaus, Eldorado, Placer, CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, CHP, East Bay Municipal Utility District, as well as specially trained search dogs from WOOF (Wilderness Finders Search Dog) and CARDA (California Rescue Dog Association) continue to search for 43 year old automotive journalist David Gordon Johnson (pictured below) of the Sacramento area. Mr. Johnson was on his way home after a long distance motorcycle ride and presumably stopped to rest at the Big Bar Launch recreation area along the Mokelumne River just off of Hwy 49 outside of Mokelumne Hill in Calaveras County. An initial search was initiated on Friday, June 7th, after he was reported missing by his fiancé. His motorcycle was located undisturbed at that location with the key in the ignition and helmet and gloves sitting on the seat of the motorcycle.

On Saturday, June 8th, a large scale search was initiated utilizing boats, ground search teams and a scent-tracking dog combing the riverbanks on both the Amador and Calaveras sides of the river for several miles in both directions. A CHP helicopter and drones were utilized to search some of the more remote areas of the canyon. Some of Mr. Johnson’s clothing and personal items including his cell phone, laptop computer, a down jacket, and a riding jacket were located by ground searchers on the Calaveras side of the swiftly moving Mokelumne River. The area was then searched by a tracking dog in the hopes of locating a scent trail leading to or from the clothing. The trail seemed to lead towards the river.

On Sunday, June 9th, search efforts were again increased, with allied agencies from the multiple agencies assisting in the search. This included utilizing additional scent trailing dogs on boats and near the water’s edge, as well as the use of jet skis to access areas above the Middle Bar bridge not readily accessible to ground crews due to the thick brush along the riverbanks. Ground crews located additional clothing confirmed to belong to Mr. Johnson in a small feeder stream in the general area of where the earlier clothing was located. The location was confirmed as the same spot he had sent the “selfie” photo pictured below to a friend. Deputies recovered Mr. Johnson’s motorcycle riding pants, jeans, wallet, and camera from this area. Scent dogs were again utilized in the area, with the results being similar to the first, a trail leading from the clothing to the river.

With all evidence pointing towards Mr. Johnson having gone into the Mokelumne River for unknown reasons and with no evidence of foul play, search efforts have continued in the subsequent days along the river’s edge, within the Mokelumne River and Pardee Reservoir below the Middle Bar Bridge. Search efforts are scheduled to continue throughout the week. Thus far searchers have logged over 225 miles of area covered, not including air coverage by helicopters and drones.

If anyone has seen David Gordon Johnson they are asked to call the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 754 6500, or the Investigations Tip Line at (209) 754-6030.