After more than a month of searching, the case of a missing Northern California mother and her baby ended in heartbreak. On August 17, 2025, authorities located 27-year-old Whisper Owens and her eight-month-old daughter, Sandra McCarthy, inside their Chevrolet Trailblazer, which had been submerged in a canal beneath a Highway 120 bridge near Oakdale.
Whisper and Sandra were last seen on July 15 when she traveled to Fresno for a medical appointment and a family visit. She was expected to return home to Sacramento that evening but never arrived. Investigators eventually traced her phone signal near the canal, leading search teams equipped with sonar to the spot where the vehicle was found.
Family members describe Whisper as a devoted mother of four who loved her children dearly. Her brother, Richard Owens, shared the family’s grief, saying the discovery brought devastating confirmation but also ended weeks of agonizing uncertainty. He expressed gratitude toward the search teams and volunteers who supported the effort.
Authorities are still investigating how the vehicle ended up in the water. While the cause remains unclear, officials say they are working to piece together the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
For the family, the discovery closes a painful chapter of waiting but begins a long journey of healing. Loved ones remember Whisper as a caring mother and Sandra as a baby whose life ended far too soon, leaving a lasting void in the hearts of all who knew them.