San Andreas, CA…On August 15, 2019, at about 8:10 AM, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a vehicle matching the description of Helen Coultrup’s car. A citizen recreating the area located the vehicle near Wilseyville (California) several miles off the highway on a dirt road. Calaveras County Sheriff’s Detectives, California Highway Patrol Air Unit and the Calaveras County Volunteer Search and Rescue Team (including a search dog) were dispatched to investigate and search the area. Upon arrival, they located Coultrup’s vehicle and began searching the area.

On August 16, 2019, The Calaveras Volunteer Search and Rescue Team, Amador County Search and Rescue, Tuolumne Search and Rescue and CARDA (California Rescue Dog Association) continued search efforts. Unfortun ately, searchers located remains believed to be Helen Coultrup. Based upon the search of the area and the conditions of the human remains, it appears as though there has been heavy animal activity involving the human remains. Helen Coultrup’s identification, clothing and other identifying items were also found in the area. The human remains and other evidence of animal activity will be sent to the Calaveras County Coroner’s Office and a California Department of Fish and Wild Life laboratory for further processing and examination. The cause of and manor of death is unknown at this time.

The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office wishes to send our condolences out to the family of Helen Coultrup. We would also like to thank everyone who aided and assisted in the search.