2 found safe after missing while cave exploring in Mariposa County

MARIPOSA COUNTY, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Two missing people from Mariposa were found safe after it was reported that they went missing when they left to go cave exploring in Mariposa County, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office said.

On Monday at 8:30 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office said they received a report of two people who “were overdue”. Leah Bernard, 34, and Daren Daniels, 38, both of Mariposa, left on June 7 to go cave exploring in the area and had failed to return.

According to sheriff’s officials, Daren’s wallet was found on Schilling Road by a resident. Cell pings were initiated on their phones. Family members informed deputies of some approximate cell coordinates of where the couple may have been headed.

Drones were utilized to search the roads and the area, as well as CHP Helicopter H42 which assisted in the search due to the area being extremely steep, hot, and thick with brush. The search continued through the night and into June 11, when a Search and Rescue Team responded as well as several SAR members to walk the area on foot.

Around 12:45 p.m., deputies say Bernard contacted their office via 911 from her cell phone. Using her cell phone coordinates deputies were able to find her exact location and direct searches to her. Searchers were able to navigate the extremely remote and technical roads where Leah was located between Quartz Mountain and North Fork drainage.

However, sheriff’s officials say Bernard and Daniels became separated, so searchers continued to look for Daniels.

The Sheriff’s Office contracted helicopter service was also called to assist in searching. SAR ground units located tracks believed to belong to Daniels in the Quartz Mountain area.

Ultimately, deputies say Daren was able to text family after asking for them to come help him at the convergence of Merced and the North Fork. At approximately 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday, SAR ground units located him after he hooked off Quartz Mountain and hit the Merced River trail.

Both Bernard and Daniels were extremely dehydrated, but officials say neither of them required extensive medical treatment.

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