Woman missing in California wilderness for 12 days found alive

A woman from California was discovered near the Yuba River in Northern California, 12 days after going missing from a mining camp site. The 24-year-old from Sacramento was located at a river canyon with severe dehydration and emaciation. She was promptly airlifted to a hospital for urgent medical care, and the exact nature of her injuries remains uncertain. Sgt. Dustin Moe, who found the woman, expressed gratitude for locating her alive after an extensive search effort conducted by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and search and rescue volunteers.

Esmeralda Marie Pineda vanished in August while camping with friends in Nevada City, a town approximately 63 miles (101 kilometers) away from Sacramento. Pineda had conveyed her intention to return to Sacramento to her friends before disappearing the following morning. Reports indicated that Pineda had somehow climbed the canyon walls before being rescued. Officials were puzzled about how Pineda managed to endure nearly two weeks in the wilderness before being found. The sheriff’s office immediately initiated search operations upon her disappearance, with law enforcement and volunteers having to navigate the challenging and hazardous canyon terrain during the search.