Search for missing Pinyon Pines woman is scaled back

Large scale search efforts for a missing Pinyon Pines woman has been called off, but county crews are still searching for 71-year old Josephene Youssef who has been missing since last Tuesday.

According to Riverside County Sheriff Deputy Mike Vasquez, the decision came last night to release all the out of county search groups. They are still searching the area with Riverside County search and rescue teams. Vasquez also says that this is still very much a missing person’s case, and they are asking the public for help in locating her.

Her family says she suffers from dementia and only speaks Arabic. Investigators said Youssef often takes walks from her home, but never returned last Tuesday. She’s believed to be missing in our local mountains, south of Palm Desert.

If you have any information, contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.