The body of the missing California lady Jolissa Fuentes was discovered Friday night, two months after she vanished.
Monday, the body of a 22-year-old was discovered inside a highly damaged vehicle at the base of a 400-foot precipice at Pine Flat Lake in Fresno County, California, after police discovered evidence that a vehicle had left a road in the hills.
Police chief of Selma, Rudy Alcaraz, was led to the crash site after hypothesizing that Fuentes may have fallen asleep at the wheel. He was able to locate the vehicle in a place police had already combed, navigating through thick grass and bushes.
Margaret Mims, sheriff of Fresno County, hailed “divine intervention” with assisting law enforcement in locating Fuentes.
Mims told reporters at a press conference yesterday, “As a lady of faith, I feel [Alcaraz] was divinely guided to that region.”
Fuentes was last seen on August 7 at a fueling station in Selma, California, approximately 15 miles southeast of Fresno, when a surveillance camera saw her leaving her silver 2011 Hyundai Accent to make a purchase at approximately 4am.
Alcaraz’s claim that she may have fallen asleep at the wheel is supported by the assertion of her relatives that she was at a family party until the early hours of the morning.
Incredible film captured by a drone and provided by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office revealed the hazardous terrain that rescue workers had to navigate in order to locate the highly damaged vehicle, which can be seen snuggled in the thick vegetation.
Jolissa Fuentes was last seen on August 7 in Selma, California, roughly 15 miles southeast of Fresno, at the AM/PM gas station.
The 22-year-body old’s was recovered inside a highly damaged car at the base of a 400ft cliff near Pine Flat Lake in Fresno County on Monday, after detectives discovered evidence that a car had abandoned a road in the hills and plunged down the cliff (police pictured at the edge of the cliff)
After rappelling down the cliff face, the police fought their way through thick vegetation to make the discovery.
After hypothesizing that Fuentes may have fallen asleep at the wheel, Selma police chief Rudy Alcaraz was led to the crash site and was able to locate the vehicle in a place police had already checked.
Fuentes was last seen on this security camera from an AM/PM gas station before her abduction.
At yesterday’s press briefing, the parents of Fuentes, Norma Nunez and Joey Fuentes, stood beside law enforcement officers with sad eyes.
They thanked the officials who had helped in the search for their daughter and released a statement expressing their appreciation for the public support they had received after other members of their community had joined the search.
“I would like to thank the entire nation, not just the community. The anguish and suffering of my wife, my sisters, and my family could be heard throughout the entire nation,’ Mr. Fuentes stated through tears.
A photograph shows Fuentes standing in front of her silver Hyundai prior to her disappearance on August 7th.
Surveillance footage revealed, according to family members, that Fuentes turned in the wrong direction on August 7 when she left the gas station parking lot.
Approximately 90 minutes after her last sighting, at 5:24 a.m., she placed two unsuccessful calls to her sister.
The frantic family enlisted the assistance of the amateur diving team Adventures with Purpose to scour local waters for her.
The dive team has solved 23 cases of missing persons; most recently, the body and silver SUV driven by missing 16-year-old Kiely Rodni were located.
Divers scoured Avocado and Pine Flat lake after police stated her phone was last detected in that region, but they were unable to locate her.
After plummeting hundreds of feet down the side of a cliff, Fuentes’ automobile lay mangled and concealed by shrubs and grass for the duration.
Jolissa Fuentes, age 22 and from California, has a missing person’s flyer.
Fuentes was captured on security camera at a petrol station exiting her silver 2011 Hyundai Accent, entering the store, and making a transaction before returning to her vehicle.
The frantic family enlisted the assistance of the amateur diving team Adventures with Purpose to scour local waters for her. The dive team has solved 23 cases of missing persons; most recently, the body and silver SUV driven by missing 16-year-old Kiely Rodni were located.
Following the finding of Fuentes and her vehicle, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office issued the following statement: ‘On Monday, October 10, Selma Police Department Chief Rudy Alcaraz discovered vehicle debris along Trimmer Springs Road, near Pine Flat Lake.
Chief Alcaraz believed a car accident may have occurred in the area after a closer inspection. He found old tire tracks that went through vegetation and off a cliff. Chief Alcaraz contacted the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and requested members of the Search and Rescue team respond to the site.
‘Drones were flown and deputies rappelled down more than 400 feet off the roadway and discovered a damaged car. The automobile was owned by Jolissa Fuentes.
In this gully, human bones and some of Jolissa’s personal things were discovered. On Tuesday, recovery efforts resumed… There is no suspicion of foul play in this case.
Family, friends, and law enforcement launched extensive searches for Jolissa and disseminated information in the hopes of locating her.
‘We wish to extend our prayers to all of Jolissa’s loved ones during this difficult time.’