Authorities confirmed Sunday that a missing California mother and her baby were found dead in a submerged SUV, weeks after their disappearance following a doctor’s visit. The heartbreaking discovery ended an intensive search that had spanned several counties and left a family pleading for answers.
The Last Known Movements
Whisper Owen, 36, of Sacramento County, and her 8-month-old daughter, Sandra McCarty, vanished on July 15 after traveling to Fresno for Sandra’s doctor appointment. They left Elk Grove around 4 a.m. and checked in at the doctor’s office at 8:30 a.m. Afterward, Owen visited her brother’s home until 2:45 p.m. before returning briefly to her mother’s house. By 5 p.m., the pair were on the road again.
At 8 p.m., a license plate reader picked up Owen’s silver 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer in Atwater, about 65 miles from Fresno. Surveillance footage later showed her changing Sandra’s diaper in a smoke shop parking lot. That was the last confirmed sighting of the mother and child.
The Search Efforts
Days passed without contact. Owen’s partner grew concerned when she never returned home, leading her family to notify authorities. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation, but early findings suggested no foul play. Still, the trail went cold until volunteer divers with the group Adventures With Purpose joined the search.
Using sonar technology, the team located Owen’s vehicle submerged beneath a bridge in an underwater canal near Highway 120 and Victory Avenue in San Joaquin County, roughly 40 miles from where the SUV was last seen. With help from a local recovery service, the team confirmed the bodies of Owen and Sandra inside the vehicle.
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The discovery has left relatives devastated. “She was doing everything she could as a mother to try to save her daughter Sandra,” Adventures With Purpose wrote in their announcement. Family members have since created a GoFundMe to cover funeral costs for both Owen and her daughter.
According to The Los Angeles Times, California Highway Patrol is now leading the investigation into how the vehicle ended up underwater. Officials have not indicated any evidence of foul play but continue to review the circumstances.
What Comes Next
The vehicle has been recovered by San Joaquin County emergency services. Authorities are working to determine whether road conditions, driver fatigue, or other factors contributed to the tragedy. Meanwhile, the family is focused on honoring the memory of the young mother and her infant daughter, who were lost far too soon.
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