UPPER LAKE — Authorities found the body of a 54-year-old Upper Lake woman in Middle Creek Wednesday afternoon, more than four hours after her husband reported her missing, according to Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff”s Office.
A search team discovered the body of Jesma Bailey around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday about a mile downstream from the Baileys” home on Dewell Road in Upper Lake, Bauman said.
Daniel Bailey called the LCSO Wednesday morning to report that his wife had left their residence sometime Tuesday night, as she was not there when he woke up and a door had been left open, Bauman said.
Daniel Bailey found a pillow, blanket, his wife”s reading glasses and Department of Motor Vehicles paperwork 40 feet outside their home before deputies arrived, Bauman said. Empty liquor bottles and a nearly empty bottle of prescription medication were found in the home, Bauman said.
Daniel Bailey told deputies that his wife “had been troubled” after being arrested for driving under the influence for the fourth time in late November, but “had otherwise expressed no thoughts of hurting herself,” Bauman said.
Deputies searched the area around the Baileys” home and were unable to locate her, according to Bauman. A search and rescue operation soon followed, he said.
A REACH helicopter aided with air support around 2:15 p.m. and soon located apparent clothing along Middle Creek”s banks, Bauman said.
The search team located Jesma Bailey”s body, which “had sustained some superficial injuries,” on the creek bank, Bauman said.
“There were no obvious signs of foul play or significant trauma,” Bauman said, and the case and cause of death are still pending. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, Bauman said.
