Tragic Discovery Ends Search for Missing Mother and Baby

After more than a month of desperate searching, Whisper Owens and her eight-month-old daughter, Sandra McCarthy, were found deceased inside their submerged SUV in a canal near Oakdale, California.

On August 17, 2025, rescue crews employed sonar technology to locate the 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer resting beneath a bridge along Highway 120.

Final Act of Love

Investigators revealed that Whisper appeared to shield her daughter in her final moments — a heartbreaking testament to a mother’s love. The discovery brought a painful closure to weeks of uncertainty for their family and community.

Timeline of Disappearance

Whisper left her mother’s home in Fresno on July 15, en route back to Sacramento — but she never arrived.

Her phone last pinged near the canal, focusing search efforts in that area.

Last Sightings

Security footage captured Whisper visiting relatives, stopping at a local smoke shop, and caring for her baby. Traffic cameras later recorded her Trailblazer near Shaffer and Bellevue Roads, after which both mother and child vanished.

Authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.

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