A month-long search for Whisper Owens and her eight-month-old daughter, Sandra McCarthy, ended in tragedy when they were found dead inside a submerged 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer in a Northern California canal on August 17, 2025. The vehicle was discovered beneath a bridge at Highway 120 and Victory Avenue near Oakdale with the help of sonar equipment. Authorities reported that Whisper appeared to have tried to shield her daughter, though the circumstances leading to their entrapment remain unclear.

The mother and child had last been seen on July 15, 2025, after Whisper traveled to Fresno for a doctor’s appointment and family visits before attempting to return home to Sacramento. Surveillance cameras captured her along the route, including a stop at a smoke shop to tend to her baby. When she failed to return, her family grew increasingly concerned, especially given her history of high blood pressure. Despite searches along the route and appeals for help on social media, no trace was found until the discovery of the SUV.

For weeks, family and community members clung to hope, distributing flyers, checking shelters, and retracing her journey. Whisper’s partner initially assumed she was staying with her mother, but concern mounted after days passed without contact. Her family emphasized that she would not have disappeared willingly, highlighting her devotion to her children, including Sandra and her three older siblings. The heartbreaking discovery has left the family and community devastated but with some closure after weeks of uncertainty.

Whisper’s brother, Richard Owens, spoke of the unbearable pain of losing his sister and infant niece, expressing sorrow for the siblings who would never see Sandra grow up. While the tragedy remains under investigation, he took solace in finally having answers and extended gratitude to search teams and community members who worked tirelessly. The family now faces the long process of grieving, remembering, and honoring the lives of Whisper and Sandra, who were deeply cherished and will be profoundly missed.