Body of missing Sacramento-area automotive journalist found in Mokelumne River
Searchers have located the body of a man believed to be missing automotive journalist David Gordon Johnson, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office reported Friday.
Rangers from the East Bay Municipal Utilities District found the body Thursday afternoon in the Mokelumne River near the inlet of Lake Pardee, north of Valley Springs, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office.
Johnson’s family friend, Abigail Bassett, announced on Twitter on Thursday night that Johnson’s body had been located and thanked everyone who searched for Johnson since he was reported missing June 5.
The search included more than 100 people from agencies across the state trekking over 448 miles on foot around the Mokelumne River canyon between the Electra Hydropower Plant and Pardee Reservoir, officials said.
Boats, helicopters and drones also were used in the search. Calaveras sheriff’s detectives said they believe the last known contact from Johnson, 43, was a selfie he texted a friend on June 5.
By examining the photograph, detectives said, they were able to locate Johnson’s parked motorcycle at Big Bar River Access on June 7.
Trained K9’s tracked Johnson’s scent from the motorcycle to the Mokelumne River’s edge, where his wallet, cameras and some electronics were located.
“Prior to the discovery of the body, Sheriff’s Detectives pieced together circumstances and evidence which suggested that David Johnson may have entered the Mokelumne River and become the victim of accidental drowning,” the press release says. An autopsy will determine his cause of death.
Johnson, of Sacramento County, was a contributor to Car and Driver magazine, according to an article from the magazine after his disappearance.
This story was originally published June 21, 2019 at 12:17 PM.
