Perilous search continues for NY woman missing in Northern California river
Nevada County authorities have identified the woman who went missing in the South Yuba River as the search continued Tuesday in what authorities called “extremely dangerous” conditions.
Rebecca Heinowitz, 50, of Barrytown, New York, was last seen Saturday struggling while swimming in the Yuba River just upstream from the South Yuba Bridge, said the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office in a news release.
Heinowitz is described as 5-foot-3 and 120 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a black two-piece swimsuit.
Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada County Search and Rescue soon took lead of a search mission that officials say remains “active and ongoing.” The operation is focused on the South Yuba River near Highway 49 and downstream to Bridgeport as searchers contend with a raging Yuba River.
“The river conditions are currently extremely dangerous with high, cold, and very fast-moving water, making the search especially challenging for rescuers,” Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in the release.
The first crews from Nevada County Consolidated Fire District were at the scene about 8:30 p.m., Saturday, finding no sign of the woman.
Nevada County and other searchers were in the water while California Highway Patrol launched remote-piloted drones to search from above. Sheriff’s officials are warning people of the river’s dangers as warmer weather melts the Sierra Nevada snowpack and sends snowmelt downstream.
“As the weather heats up and snowmelt makes its way down the mountains, the water will continue to be fast, cold, and dangerous,” Nevada County Sheriff’s officials said.
This story was originally published May 27, 2025 at 12:57 PM.
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