Found Deceased CA - Helen Coultrup, 87, Valley Springs, 3 Aug 2019

Gardener1850

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  • #1
Community continues search for missing grandmother

Aug 9, 2019

Family, friends and volunteers gathered in the parking lot of Treats General Store in San Andreas Thursday evening to embark on a second search for Helen Coultrup, an 87-year-old woman who was reported missing nearly one week ago.

“It’s one of our own, and so we’ve just got to do it,” said Denise Konz of San Andreas, who doesn’t know Coultrup personally but participated in the search with her husband, Dewayne.

As another day drew to a close, the search party found no signs of the San Andreas native or her silver/light blue Toyota Yaris hatchback, which was last seen on the afternoon of Aug. 3, leaving the Mar-Val parking lot in Valley Springs to turn onto Highway 26.

[...]

In the ongoing search, law enforcement and Coldani are seeking help from media and the public. On Thursday, Coldani and Calaveras County Sheriff Rick DiBasilio appeared on FOX40 news, requesting that locals throughout the region stay alert and looking.

Another search is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday, outside of Cost Less Food Company in Jackson. According to organizers, the effort is in need of all terrain vehicles, drones, hikers and anyone else willing to volunteer.

Coultrup is described as a white female, 5’6” in height, weighing 200 pounds, with brown eyes and short, curly, gray hair. She often wears glasses attached to a necklace and was likely wearing a pink or fuchsia shirt at the time of her disappearance.

More at link: Community continues search for missing grandmother
 
  • #2
AUG 5, 2019
Silver Alert issued for missing San Andreas woman
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  • The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Silver Alert
  • Last seen driving a 2010 silver or light-blue Toyota Yaris hatchback near the area of Highways 12 and 26 in Valley Springs, between the hours of 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 3
  • Her family says she has memory problems. Her granddaughter says that Helen is able to live independently but “cognitively, is not there all the time.”
  • Her granddaughter said she may have been missing days before her disappearance was reported
  • “She hasn’t touched her account since (July) 30. She got paid on the 2nd. It’s worrying me because she doesn’t have any money out there,” MC said. “My concern is maybe she ran out of gas somewhere or something worse.”
  • According to MC, Helen was reported missing by members of her church after she did not show up for the Sunday service.
  • MC said her grandmother has a “pretty consistent routine” and “doesn’t go off the beaten path.”
  • She has concerns that Coultrup could have driven as far as Stockton or Modesto
Calaveras County Sheriff's Office
A Silver Alert has been activated
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AUG 7, 2019
Calaveras sheriff's office seeking public's help to find missing 87-year-old
  • License plate on the Toyota Yaris - 6WWY181
 
Last edited:
  • #3
  • #4
They now have a "find" page on FB:

Helpers for Helen

They also have a map up of roads that have been searched.
 
  • #5
  • #6
They now have a "find" page on FB:

Helpers for Helen

They also have a map up of roads that have been searched.
People are driving the roads looking for her car, they're getting flyers up, they've got drones in motion, and people searching on foot. I am happy to see such a good community effort. I hope they find her very soon. MOO
 
  • #7
AUG 9, 2019
Helpers for Helen
  • Helen doesn't have a cellphone
  • Helen does not smoke, drink, do drugs or gamble
  • The only medication she takes is for high blood pressure
  • She is hard of hearing
  • It was confirmed through OnStar and Toyota that she does not have GPS
  • She does have a drivers license
  • She had $120 and there has been no ATM usage
  • Was in Angels Camp around 11-2 and was seen in the parking lot of Starbucks/McDonald’s/CVS
  • Last location was Marval parking lot around 3-330 turning on 26
  • She wears white shoes Walmart that look like New Balance
  • Usually wears a necklace with glasses
  • A wrist stretchy metal Timex watch
  • Friendly, Widowed
  • Slightly confused sometimes but no diagnosis of dementia has never not gone home.
  • She is very smart navigation-wise. She was a parts delivery driver for machine shops in the Bay Area.
  • This woman has built things/fixed things/jerry-rigged things/ uses tools.
  • This woman does not give up
  • Usually has a pack of water bottles in the car. Sheriffs/chp have been notified of everything
  • She never marked her Calendar off on Saturday night which means she never came home
 
  • #8
  • #9
Missing since 8/3,hope you are just visiting with friends Ms.Helen
 
  • #10
Awwww! Not another sweet little lady missing. Praying for a good ending to this story. I hope her familiarity with the area from driving with her job will guide her. Hoping they've checked all hospitals/shelters.
 
  • #11
AUG 13, 2019
Helpers for Helen
  • A volunteer search is scheduled for this Saturday, Aug. 17, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Meet at Mar-Val Food Stores 55 S Highway 26, Valley Springs, CA 95252
 
  • #12
The Sheriff's nonchalant statement bothers me with this one.
 
  • #13
...SBM

"She is somewhat confused, no diagnosis of dementia," said Coultrup's granddaughter, Molly Coldani.

Coldani told ABC10 her grandma lives in San Andreas, but was last seen at the Mar-Val parking lot in Valley Springs, Calif.

"She was seen by one of her friends," Coldani said. "They are Jehova's Witnesses so they sit outside the grocery store. She waved, left the parking lot, and then turned left."

Coldani said another tip from someone in the community led her to the Hogan Dam in Valley Springs.

"I thought that was weird. It wasn't in her box," Coldani explained. "She has this box she goes to – Angels Camp, San Andreas – she has dinner in Jackson almost every night."

Coldani said she went to every restaurant her grandmother would go to, but no one has seen her after August 3. On Saturday, Coldani is asking those who can help to join her search party from 8 a.m. to noon at the Mar-Val parking lot in Valley Springs.

"I just need closure. I can't live with the fact that she just drove into the sunset to never be seen again. However I find her, I just need to find her," Coldani added.

'I just need closure' | Woman asks for help finding 87-year-old grandmother in Calaveras County
 
  • #14
AUG 15, 2019
Sheriff: Missing 87-year-old woman’s vehicle found in Calaveras County
[...]

Coultrup was driving a silver/light blue, four-door 2010 Toyota hatchback, which officials say was located Thursday morning on a dirt road near Wilseyville.

[...]

The Calaveras County search and rescue team, Calaveras County sheriff’s detectives and California Highway Patrol air unit are investigating and searching the area where the vehicle was found.

Calaveras County Sheriff's Office
  • On August 15, 2019 at about 8:10 AM, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a vehicle matching the description of Helen Coultrup’s car.
  • A citizen recreating the area located the vehicle near Wilseyville (California) several miles off the highway on a dirt road.
  • Calaveras County Sheriff’s Detectives, California Highway Patrol Air Unit and the Calaveras County Volunteer Search and Rescue Team (including a search dog) were dispatched to investigate and search the area.
  • Upon arrival, they located Coultrup’s vehicle and began searching the area for Helen.
  • Additional searchers have been requested via the California Office of Emergency Services Law Enforcement Branch.
 
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  • #15
Praying for this precious grandma!!!
 
  • #16
AUG 15, 2019
Sheriff: Missing 87-year-old woman’s vehicle found in Calaveras County
[...]

Coultrup was driving a silver/light blue, four-door 2010 Toyota hatchback, which officials say was located Thursday morning on a dirt road near Wilseyville.

[...]

The Calaveras County search and rescue team, Calaveras County sheriff’s detectives and California Highway Patrol air unit are investigating and searching the area where the vehicle was found.

Updated: Calaveras County Sheriff's Office

Oh no. It's never good when they find the car and not the missing person. :(

MOO.
 
  • #17
Wilseyville, just hearing the name gives me goosebumps.( Lake and Ng) wonder if she has friends up that way. Glad they are searching from the air as well ! Please let the dogs get scent ! Keeping Helen and all the searchers family and friends in my prayers MOO
 
  • #18
  • #19
AUG 15, 2019
Missing San Andreas woman’s car found in Wilseyville; search continues for woman
"She was stuck, is what I was told," Coultrup's granddaughter Molly Coldani wrote to the Enterprise via Facebook message. "(She) wasn't in an accident."
Any possible reason that she was traveling in that area? On a dirt road? I'm not familiar with the area, but from looking at the map, it doesn't seem to be in a location she would normally drive. (Not in line with Angel Camp, San Andreas, or Jackson, where her granddaughter stated she normally drives.)

Google Maps
 
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  • #20
Wilseyville, just hearing the name gives me goosebumps.( Lake and Ng) wonder if she has friends up that way. Glad they are searching from the air as well ! Please let the dogs get scent ! Keeping Helen and all the searchers family and friends in my prayers MOO
Curious? Is there a reason this area is frightening? Sure seems to be off a bit from her usual travels.

Google Maps

ETA Never mind. I looked it up. Goosebumps myself now.
 

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