Recovered/Located CA - Cecil Knutson (dec'd), Dianna Bedwell (inj'd), Valley Ctr, 10 May 2015

[Treelights]

In this link there is a 29 second video, and it shows video footage of the car where it was found.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...ds-body-after-weeks-lost-in-california-desert

GOOD ARTICLE and same kind of video at this link:

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Missing-OC-Couple-Casino-Four-Wheeling-304924861.html

 

[GigTu]

How in the world did they end up there? Why did they continue so far in?

FWIW, it looks like they were trying to turn around and got stuck.

 

[FindHG]

In this link there is a 29 second video, and it shows video footage of the car where it was found.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...ds-body-after-weeks-lost-in-california-desert

GOOD ARTICLE and same kind of video at this link:

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Missing-OC-Couple-Casino-Four-Wheeling-304924861.html

Thank you, treelights, for the links to the news.

"It's Sad All the Way Around": Man Describes Moment He Found Missing OC Couple
“I’m very glad we got there when we did,” he said.
By Samantha Tatro, KNBC 4 LA , May 25, '15

Vikki Vargas reports, at 5 pm, on Monday, that the Police Chief of the tribal lands, "in what's considered the back country of Warner Springs" stated that this is the "most rugged terrain of all," a remote and inaccessible area of their lands, that can be reached only by ATV's or a dune buggy, where Paul and Dianna were found.

Paul's walker by the car

 

[Voice4theSilent]

Don't know if this was posted yet but it is a video of an interview of the people who found them.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Man-Found-Missing-Couple-304921031.html

 

[Inthedetails]

I don't know for certain what happened, of course, but I do recall a family member saying Paul like to take short cuts.

Knowing where they were found triggered memories of car rides with my dad. He also like to take his own route - sigh. Many, many times we ended up on old logging trails, abandoned old highways, roads to nowhere.

Perhaps my dad and Paul shared a sense of adventure and comfort on the off roads, and it didn't work out well for Paul on that last trip. My dad drove a truck, not a sedan, which may be the only reason he didn't get stuck - though I also remember some instances of having to get out of the truck to help direct where to turn, back-up, etc.

I had forgotten all about those strange road trips until this story. Now floods of memories are coming back. But....this isn't about me, lol!

Continued prayers for Dianna.

 

[FindHG]

Don't know if this was posted yet but it is a video of an interview of the people who found them.
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Man-Found-Missing-Couple-304921031.html

Thank you for the link, Voice4theSilent, I hadn't seen the full version. Much appreciated.

Man Describes Moments He Found Missing Couple
“I’m very glad we got there when we did,” he said.
By Samantha Tatro, NBC7 San Diego,

Omari Fleming reports, stating that they were '45 minutes away from the Casino, on a path consistent with the turn they made, "her son, right now, is by her side." He also spoke to a friend who said,

"They're conversing just fine. Apparently mom is in tears about her husband."

Matt Rascon reports, speaking to one of the people who found them, about 50 miles away from the Casino, with details on Dianna's condition at the time.


“The driver of our lead vehicle came down and said you will not believe what's down there...and then he said bring water,”

[...]

“I’m very glad we got there when we did,” he said.

 

[Inthedetails]

Thank you for the link, Voice4theSilent, I hadn't seen the full version. Much appreciated.

Man Describes Moments He Found Missing Couple
“I’m very glad we got there when we did,” he said.
By Samantha Tatro, NBC7 San Diego,

Omari Fleming reports, stating that they were '45 minutes away from the Casino, on a path consistent with the turn they made, "her son, right now, is by her side." He also spoke to a friend who said,

"They're conversing just fine. Apparently mom is in tears about her husband."

Matt Rosone reports, speaking to one of the people who found them, about 50 miles away from the Casino, with details on Dianna's condition at the time.


“The driver of our lead vehicle came down and said you will not believe what's down there...and then he said bring water,”

[...]

“I’m very glad we got there when we did,” he said.

Thank goodness they were in the shade. Just a few feet ahead, they would've been in the full sun it looks like.

 

[steelman]

How in the world did they end up there? Why did they continue so far in?

FWIW, it looks like they were trying to turn around and got stuck.

I think they most likely followed a primitive trail in for a little ways, thinking maybe it was a dirt road, and the further they went the more narrow it got. That would prevent them from being able to turn around, so Paul opted to continue on further, probably looking for a turn around spot. Judging by the video it looks like they got down into a dry creekbed
and got stuck in the soft sand. Depending on the trail they followed in, they may have gotten so turned around that they actually weren't certain which direction the highway was anymore.

It's too late to matter now, but after having seen where they were stranded, I wish they had been able to get a fire started in those bushes and trees. Most of the time when people smell something burning, they have a tendency to find out what it is and where it is, especially homeowners and LE. The bigger the fire, the bigger the response. You throw as much green stuff on it as you can so it will bellow black smoke.

 

[Tssiemer]

Thank you, treelights, for the links to the news.

"It's Sad All the Way Around": Man Describes Moment He Found Missing OC Couple
“I’m very glad we got there when we did,” he said.
By Samantha Tatro, KNBC 4 LA , May 25, '15

Vikki Vargas reports, at 5 pm, on Monday, that the Police Chief of the tribal lands, "in what's considered the back country of Warner Springs" stated that this is the "most rugged terrain of all," a remote and inaccessible area of their lands, that can be reached only by ATV's or a dune buggy, where Paul and Dianna were found.

View attachment 75296 Paul's walker by the car

View attachment 75297

View attachment 75298

Ok so I was doing good until I saw the picture of his car and the walker. Then the water works came.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[callyn]

It's heartbreaking seeing Mr Knutson's walker there by the car. For some reason that really got to me.

My dad was always one for shortcuts and adventures. My mother said one time they wound up on a firebreak somewhere in Montana and she waited in the car (a big box of a four door continental, not usually used for off roading ) while he explored. She saw river otters and a wolf. Found out later no one had seen river otters up there for many, many years. She never did find out just exactly where they had been.

Thank god a tragedy like this did not happen to them, but it could have so easily.

 

[pappa rob]

I think they most likely followed a primitive trail in for a little ways, thinking maybe it was a dirt road, and the further they went the more narrow it got. That would prevent them from being able to turn around, so Paul opted to continue on further, probably looking for a turn around spot. Judging by the video it looks like they got down into a dry creekbed
and got stuck in the soft sand. Depending on the trail they followed in, they may have gotten so turned around that they actually weren't certain which direction the highway was anymore.

It's too late to matter now, but after having seen where they were stranded, I wish they had been able to get a fire started in those bushes and trees. Most of the time when people smell something burning, they have a tendency to find out what it is and where it is, especially homeowners and LE. The bigger the fire, the bigger the response. You throw as much green stuff on it as you can so it will bellow black smoke.

Hey stuff happens. A few years ago I ended up stuck in knee deep snow in Colorado. I went out on a day trip into the desert with my parents. Mom and Dad wanted to take a shortcut back home. We ended up stuck overnight. My cane and I took a 10 mile hike down the hill until I found a ride into town. It was good I did, it was another 15 miles to the next house. The cup of water I had wasn't going to get me there. The smoke didn't help, that was the first thing we tried. It might of helped if we were in a more populated area, didn't help much there.

 

[Tssiemer]

Ok so why was the onstar thing not working?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[thesiren]

Ok so why was the onstar thing not working?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Maybe because of the remote location? OnStar works via satellite, no?

Also, maybe the subscription lapsed? Although it did say their car was a 2014, and I think the car would come equipped at least for a year unless they bought it used.

 

[sleuthinginca]

Ok so why was the onstar thing not working?


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That's what I want to know. They may not have subscribed to the service but the car is still supposed to be tracked. That was actually one of the first statements LE made....they said the car was damaged or is inside a steal garage...so could not be located. Well it was neither of those....so what the heck?

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

oh so bittersweet... just tears for now, sharing them with all of you who read anything in this thread at any point of the search. What an amazing team here, caring for this couple, coming to know and like them, helpless as we felt sometimes... I too feel both the wow and the sadness. I hope Dianna can recover from this and share her beautiful memories of this man with others, and her resolve because wow, she has some!

 

[steelman]

I zoomed in really tight on the map in the area right there at the Boy Scout camp. From the best I can tell, they must have headed down the road next to it and ended up on the south end of the property. You can see primitive trails and atv tracks zigzagging all through there. That was the address they gave in the initial reports, so I assume they somehow worked their way down into the creekbed or lower terrain from the main road.

The most striking thing to me though is the number of structures and homes scattered around in that area. I have no way of knowing if they are occupied or not, but many of them appear to be within a 1/4 mile to a 1/2 mile away from the area the car was found. On the same property as the Boy Scout camp, there is a huge house with solar panels and a swimming pool. Many of them have cars parked around them in the satellite view. Just doing a quick count, there is at least 40-50 buildings within a 1/2 mile of the Boy Scout camp.

If anybody comes across an article where they pinpoint the EXACT location that the car was stranded, please post a link or post the map itself. Thanks.

 

[rosesfromangels]

Yes, all the energy we put in to thinking about how to find this couple may now be focused on surrounding Dianna with good thoughts, prayers, and best wishes for speedy healing. When she is able, I hope her family will encourage her to attend grief counseling as quickly as possible. She will need lots of support; she has been through a tremendous trauma. God Bless her!

 

[RileyT]

I think they most likely followed a primitive trail in for a little ways, thinking maybe it was a dirt road, and the further they went the more narrow it got. That would prevent them from being able to turn around, so Paul opted to continue on further, probably looking for a turn around spot. Judging by the video it looks like they got down into a dry creekbed
and got stuck in the soft sand. Depending on the trail they followed in, they may have gotten so turned around that they actually weren't certain which direction the highway was anymore.

It's too late to matter now, but after having seen where they were stranded, I wish they had been able to get a fire started in those bushes and trees. Most of the time when people smell something burning, they have a tendency to find out what it is and where it is, especially homeowners and LE. The bigger the fire, the bigger the response. You throw as much green stuff on it as you can so it will bellow black smoke.

Definitely would not have been a good idea to start a fire, we have had some horrible wild fires in these areas and they get out of control very quickly.

 

[steelman]

Definitely would not have been a good idea to start a fire, we have had some horrible wild fires in these areas and they get out of control very quickly.

If you started a wildfire in order to get attention in a life or death situation, such as this one, nobody would fault you for it.

When people see fire, they come a runnin'.

 

[steelman]

"Rest assured, we've got your back."

"...comprehensive safety and car care package offers peace of mind. In the event of an accident, no matter where you are, trained operators are standing by to provide assistance and emergency help."

http://m.hyundaiusa.com/bluelink/

The sales pitch:

Complimentary for one year on most new Hyundai vehicles, this comprehensive safety and car care package offers peace of mind. In the event of an accident, no matter where you are, trained operators are standing by to provide assistance and emergency help. Help is just a button push away. We are ready 24/7, 365 days a year.

Now the fine print:

Blue Link Connected Care includes 1 year of the Blue Link Connected Care Package and requires an active Blue Link subscription. One-year term starts from the new vehicle date of first use and is available for new vehicle purchases and leases based upon terms and conditions on the Blue Link subscription enrollment pages. Only use Blue Link and corresponding devices when safe to do so. Cellular and GPS coverage is required. Blue Link is available on most new Hyundai vehicles. Features, specifications, and fees vary by subscription plan and are subject to change.


I believe it was their daughter who stated early on, that Blue-Link was pretty much just a glorified cell phone. No cell signal, no help.