LOWER LAKE — The Lake County Sheriff”s Office is pleased to report that the 85-year-old Lower Lake woman previously reported as missing and at-risk late Tuesday night, was located, Capt. James Bauman stated in press release issued Wednesday.
“The combined effort of all who responded to Lake County and were deployed for an advanced search for Thompson this morning led to a happy ending. At about 11:05 a.m. one of the vehicle teams from Mendocino County SAR found Thompson sitting on the ground near a dirt road in the hills, about one mile northwest of her home,” Bauman said. “She was incoherent and had some superficial injuries, but was otherwise relatively unharmed given her ordeal.
According to Bauman, a Search and Rescue (SAR) operation was activated at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after Donalda Thompson”s daughter reported her missing from her May Hollow Road residence in the Twin Lakes Subdivision, located south of Lower Lake. Bauman said Thompson was last seen Tuesday morning when her daughter left for work and was discovered missing from the home when her daughter returned in the evening. Thompson, Bauman said, has a history of dementia and was considered at-risk.
Bauman said throughout Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, volunteers from Lake County SAR and the Kelseyville K-Corps searched the area of Thompson”s 12-acre property and the general Lower Lake area with negative results.
“All the while, SAR coordinators arranged for additional resources to respond from outside the county and deploy this morning,” Bauman said Wednesday. “By 9 a.m. this morning, SAR teams from Sacramento, Colusa, Glenn, Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties had responded to render mutual aid.”
Bauman said additional resources joining in the search included SAR Explorers from the East Bay area, a blood hound team from the Placerville Police Department and local highway patrol officers. He said SAR teams from Contra Costa County were still en route and a CHP helicopter was about to go airborne when Thompson was located. SAR teams from Alameda County were also committed to respond if the search was to extend to a second day.
The Sheriff”s Mobile Command Center was brought in and set up on Ployez Winery property off Highway 29. “This is close to my heart with my mom having dementia,” Shirley Ployez said. “We were happy to do what we could to help.”
Bauman said Thompson was initially assessed and transported to the Command Center where Lake County Fire Protection District medics were waiting. She was ultimately transported to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for further evaluation.
“Donalda Thompson was unable to speak to her ordeal. However, the Lake County Sheriff”s Office expresses its deepest gratitude to the men and women of local Search and Rescue teams, the Kelseyville K-CORPS, local assisting agencies and particularly those SAR teams and SAR Explorers responding from outside the county, who contributed to an efficient and successful operation,” Bauman said.
