Body matching description of missing man found in Pine Flat Lake area
A body matching the description of an Air Force veteran missing since June 5 was found Saturday by members of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team, the sheriff’s office said.
Donald Thomas, 77, went missing from his home near Pine Flat Lake on June 5, and a search was launched that night, the sheriff’s office said. Dozens of deputies and volunteers combed the area around Pine Flat Lake to look for Thomas in the midst of high temperatures, poison oak and the threat of rattlesnakes.
On Saturday, 50 searchers and five dogs participated in the search for the Air Force veteran. Members of the search team came from seven different agencies, including Madera County Sheriff’s Office, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Kern County Sheriff’s Office and California Rescue Dog Association.
The body was found in rugged terrain within the search area on the seventh day of searching. The Coroner’s Office is responsible for identifying the body and determining the cause of death.
Razi Syed: 559-441-6679, @razisyed
This story was originally published June 11, 2016 at 5:47 PM with the headline "Body matching description of missing man found in Pine Flat Lake area."