I joined the search for missing mom Whisper Owen and her baby Sandra McCarty on August 8, 2025, when I flew to northen California, rented a Jeep, and headed to the Central Valley.
During my search I discovered two locations that seemed promising. See the photos below – what do you think?
Whisper and Sandra disappeared on July 15th as they were heading home to the Rosemont area of Sacramento, CA, in a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer.
I began my search at Waterford Farm Supply, where the Trailblazer was last seen on a security camera at 9:05 p.m.
The Trailblazer, identifiable by the color, grille, and only one working headlight, was heading north on the Oakdale-Waterford Highway (which in Waterford is called “F” Street).
Whisper was driving home to the Rosemont area, east of Sacramento, where she lives with her partner.
According to Whisper’s family the couple were in a good place in their relationship – they have no reason to suspect that “Bob” was involved in her disappearance.
But driving home with a broken headlight meant Whisper was at risk of getting pulled over – which for her could have brought severe consequences.
Whisper doesn’t have a driver’s license and she also has an open warrant, meaning she had every reason to avoid contact with law enforcement.
Authorities recently disclosed that 10 p.m. on July 15th, Whisper’s phone pinged north of Oakdale, CA, and east of Escalon, CA.
From Friday through Sunday, I undertook twenty hours of intensive searching, focusing on places where backroads cross rivers, creeks, canals, and laterals (aka side canals).
One theory of the case is that the Trailblazer veered off the road at a bad spot, which could easily happen when driving dark roads on a moonless night in a vehicle with only one headlight.
Some backroads cross creeks like Littlejohns and Dry, which to me looked deep and vegetated enough to conceal a vehicle.
I found that river crossings tended to be better guarded than the creeks, with guardrails and fencing.
Canals and laterals were other features that caught my attention.
Because the Trailblazer is only 71 inches wide, a canal or lateral would only need to be about eight or nine feet deep for the murky water to conceal the vehicle if it was lying on its side.
My investigation revealed that laterals are commonly eight or nine feet deep, while major canals may be up to thirty feet deep.
Along 26 Mile Road north of Oakdale, CA, I came across the location where the South San Joaquin Main Canal emerges from Woodward Reservoir.
I was astounded to see that this swift, deep, and dangerous canal was completely unprotected.
Near where the canal crossed the road, I saw what looked like tracks down one side. But on closer inspection the tracks didn’t look fresh.
Even so, Richard Owen asked a contact of his to check the canal with a sonar ball. Nothing the size of a vehicle was detected.
Another location that seemed promising was Duck Creek parallel to E. Sheton Road.
In one location, shattered branches along a steep embankment leading to murky water below caught my eye.
Ultimately, after talking with neighbors who live along the road, I concluded that the branches were probably broken by the County’s roadside brush clearing machine rather than by the Trailblazer.
I also spent hours searching along a Google Maps “avoid highways” alternate route that runs northward through foothills.
Along these narrow roads, which lack guardrails, are dozens of ravines where a vehicle could tumble off the side and end up concealed from view.
Maybe Whisper was startled by a deer and swerved reflexively?
I tried to check every one of these ravines, but there’s no way I covered everything because there are variations of the foothills route.
Some people have suggested that the Trailblazer could be sitting in an orchard.
But I found that orchards, with their neat rows of groomed trees, are easy to see into.
Besides, weeks have passed and the orchards are frequented by farmworkers.
Although my hours of searching didn’t lead me to find Whisper, Sandra, or the Trailblazer, I sure am glad I tried.
This case is emotionally charged, and sleep hasn’t come easily since I started investigating
Along the rural roads I passed many crosses that denote the sites of fatal accidents – and each time I couldn’t help but think about Whisper and Sandra.
My hope, distant though it may be, is that mom and baby will miraculously turn up alive…
