Missing man’s car found underwater as search continues in California, officials say

A man left his home and never returned, California officials said.

Now, his car has been found submerged in water, according to a Facebook post by the Butte County Sheriff’s Office .

Jose Gutierrez was reported missing by his family on Aug. 18 after not returning home from an event in Biggs, about a 30-mile drive southwest, deputies said.

Officers didn’t specify what kind of event he attended.

While investigating, police found evidence of a car crash, officers said.

Police learned a car could have potentially left the road and been driven into a nearby body of water, officers said.

While searching the area, police found a submerged car and later identified it as Gutierrez’s, officers said.

Gutierrez was not in the car, and police are still searching for him, deputies said.

McClatchy News reached out to Butte County deputies for more information on Aug. 20 and was awaiting a response.

Butte County is about an 80-mile drive north of Sacramento.

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