Latest news with #JomarieCalasanz
Miami Herald
30-07-2025
- Miami Herald
26-year-old's body found months after she vanished in river in CA national park
The body of a 26-year-old woman was recovered months after she was swept away in a river at a California national park, rangers said. Jomarie Calasanz of La Puente was found dead July 24 by search teams, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks said in a July 29 news release. Her identity was confirmed July 28. 'Now, Jomarie rests in the Peace of Christ—freed from all suffering, embraced by God's eternal love, and welcomed into the joy of everlasting life. May all be comforted in knowing that she is found. We hope that as this Good News brings us closure, it may also bring closure to the many individuals who have been touched by Jomarie's life,' her family said in a July 29 Facebook post. Calasanz went to Sequoia National Park on Memorial Day weekend with her family, McClatchy News reported. At one point, she saw her older sister struggling in the Kaweah River near Paradise Creek Bridge, so she jumped in the water to save her. But both sisters ended up caught in the fast-moving currents. Her sister, Joanne Calasanz, made it out of the water safely, but Jomarie Calasanz wasn't seen again. Search teams looked for Jomarie Calasanz for nine days before 'scaling down due to dangerous river conditions,' park officials said. The teams waited to look for her again until it was safe to do so because of the dangerous high-flowing water, park officials said. Those teams then set out to find her July 24, and they found her body that day, officials said. Diver Juan Heredia and his team also spent two days searching the river for Jomarie Calasanz, he said in a July 14 Facebook post. Heredia said he covered between 5 and 7 miles, 'diving in pools, under boulders, searching the shores—and we couldn't find her.' Heredia said in a July 29 Facebook post that Jomarie Calasanz 'died a hero' saving her sister. 'Jomarie didn't die in vain,' he wrote. Sequoia National Park is about an 80-mile drive southeast from Fresno.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
‘Heartbreaking': Diver unable to find missing woman after 2-day search in Sequoia National Park
Volunteer diver Juan Heredia of Angels Recovery Dive Team posted a wrenching message on Facebook Monday morning after traveling to the treacherous waters of Sequoia National Park on Saturday, July 12, in a renewed search for Jomarie Calasanz. 'After two long, hot days searching for Jomarie, we covered 5-7 miles—diving in pools, under boulders, searching the shores—and we couldn't find her,' he posted. 'It's heartbreaking to come out of the water after 8 hours each day and tell the family I couldn't bring her home.' Calasanz, 26, of Los Angeles, was swept away while trying to save her sister May 25. She vanished after jumping into the swift currents of the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River near Paradise Creek Bridge. Her family says she was trying to rescue her older sister, Joanne, who had been caught in the waters during a Memorial Day weekend outing. 'It's been 49 days since she went missing. The river was about four feet higher back then… I knew the odds were against me, but I had to try,' Heredia said, vowing not to give up. 'While taking the first dip of the day, Joanne started to get swept away,' reads a tribute on the family's GoFundMe page. 'With a brave, loving heart and amazing courage, Jomarie, being a swimmer, instantly swam to save her sister.' Both women were pulled under, but only Joanne made it out. A nine-day, multi-agency search followed, but dangerous river conditions forced officials to scale back efforts. 'Jomarie could still be located within the park,' officials said at the time, 'but divers are unable to complete an underwater search of the river.' Heredia — a volunteer diver known for recovering drowning victims across the U.S. — took up the mission in an effort to find her. 'I must find Jomarie and bring her home,' Heredia posted on Facebook before beginning the search. 'Her parents have been living in agony for too many weeks.' Heredia, who began diving at 18 in his native Argentina, has recovered the remains of several missing people this year alone, according to reporting by the Stockton Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. In June, he located three men trapped beneath a waterfall in Placer County. In March, he helped find a missing Oregon toddler. And in January, he recovered the body of 17-year-old Wesley Cornett after a 21-day search that spanned Christmas and New Year's. His first recovery mission began in 2023, when he helped locate 15-year-old Xavier Martinez, who disappeared in Stockton's Calaveras River. Since then, Heredia has turned his recreational passion into a calling — one that's earned him recognition from the Stockton City Council and the gratitude of grieving families across the country. As a father, Heredia says he understands the pain of not knowing. In his living room, he keeps photos of every person he's recovered — smiling portraits that help him replace the haunting images from the water. 'My way of erasing that image when I found them in the state I found them is to have that photo in my living room,' the Stockton mortgage lender said. 'I always have them smiling in my living room, and I look at them every day.' Never swim alone: Always swim with a buddy, and be aware of your surroundings. Wear a life jacket: Even strong swimmers should wear a properly fitted and U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Know your limits: Be realistic about your swimming abilities and the conditions. Check the weather and water conditions: Be aware of currents, tides, and other hazards. Swim in designated areas: If possible, swim in areas with lifeguards or designated swimming zones. Avoid alcohol and drugs: Intoxication impairs judgment and can make it difficult to swim safely. Enter the water slowly: Avoid jumping or diving into unfamiliar water. This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: California diver vows to keep searching for missing woman Jomarie Calasanz
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
L.A. woman trying to save sister is swept away by roaring river. Treacherous waters imperil rescue
Search efforts for a missing Los Angeles woman who jumped into a river to rescue her sister in Sequoia National Park have been scaled down as river conditions become increasingly unsafe, park officials say. On May 25, during a trip with family and friends, 26-year-old Jomarie Calasanz was swept up by fast river currents in the Kaweah River of the Sequoia National Park foothills, according to a Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks news release. A trained swimmer, Calasanz entered the river to rescue her sister, Joanne, who was attempting to swim in 'deceivingly calm waters,' as outlined in a GoFundMe page created by the family. 'What was supposed to be a fun, bonding moment very quickly turned into a traumatic event that will stick with us forever,' the family added. 'While the river released Joanne, it is our deepest regret to inform everyone that Jomarie has not yet been found.' A multi-agency search that included search-and-rescue teams, canines, underwater cameras and aerial searches lasted for nine days in the river and surrounding areas. However, snowpack melt from higher elevations and elevated river flow rendered the search area too hazardous for rescue staff to conduct thorough searches, according to the release. Read more: The 5 most dangerous places to be rescued in California's wilderness 'When river conditions improve, possibly in the coming weeks, the team will reevaluate next steps,' the release said. The search will continue in a limited manner with fewer resources until river conditions stabilize. Park officials urged visitors to stay out of rivers during elevated-flow conditions and warned of slippery rocks near riverbanks. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
05-06-2025
- Los Angeles Times
L.A. woman trying to save sister is swept away by roaring river. Treacherous waters imperil rescue
Search efforts for a missing Los Angeles woman who jumped into a river to rescue her sister in Sequoia National Park have been scaled down as river conditions become increasingly unsafe, park officials say. On May 25, during a trip with family and friends, 26-year-old Jomarie Calasanz was swept up by fast river currents in the Kaweah River of the Sequoia National Park foothills, according to a Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks news release. A trained swimmer, Calasanz entered the river to rescue her sister, Joanne, who was attempting to swim in 'deceivingly calm waters,' as outlined in a GoFundMe page created by the family. 'What was supposed to be a fun, bonding moment very quickly turned into a traumatic event that will stick with us forever,' the family added. 'While the river released Joanne, it is our deepest regret to inform everyone that Jomarie has not yet been found.' A multi-agency search that included search-and-rescue teams, canines, underwater cameras and aerial searches lasted for nine days in the river and surrounding areas. However, snowpack melt from higher elevations and elevated river flow rendered the search area too hazardous for rescue staff to conduct thorough searches, according to the release. 'When river conditions improve, possibly in the coming weeks, the team will reevaluate next steps,' the release said. The search will continue in a limited manner with fewer resources until river conditions stabilize. Park officials urged visitors to stay out of rivers during elevated-flow conditions and warned of slippery rocks near riverbanks.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Search for L.A. woman swept away by raging river scaled back due to dangerous conditions
A search for a 26-year-old Los Angeles woman swept away by fast-moving water in Sequoia National Park over Memorial Day weekend has been scaled back as river conditions remain too hazardous for rescue teams to enter. Jomarie Calasanz was last seen near the Paradise Creek Bridge along the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River in the park's foothills. Officials said she was with friends and family when she was caught in the cold, powerful current. After nine days of intensive searching by multiple agencies, National Park Service officials said crews have transitioned to 'limited continuous mode,' assigning fewer resources while continuing to monitor the river. Officials believe Calasanz could still be within park boundaries but said current conditions make it unsafe for divers to conduct an underwater search. Search efforts have included ground crews, canines, underwater cameras, helicopters and drones. 'We are thankful for the dedicated aid of our neighboring agencies and for all of the people who have been involved in the search for Jomarie,' NPS officials said. Park officials continue to urge visitors to stay out of the river and away from its banks, warning that runoff from melting snowpack has made the water both frigid and deceptively fast-moving. Even calm-looking sections can overpower experienced swimmers, and wet rocks near the river's edge are extremely slick. Public notices remain posted in the area, and teams plan to reassess their options once the water level drops, likely in the coming weeks. Anyone with information or possible sightings is asked to contact Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Dispatch at 888-677-2746. The Calasanz family has announced the death of their loved one, and is asking for donations through GoFundMe to help pay for the cost of recovery efforts and memorial expenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
