Virginia couple headed for Palm Springs missing, vehicle found abandoned
Authorities are searching for a missing couple from Virginia on their way to Palm Springs who have been missing for 10 days.
According to investigators, William & Susan Schmeirer left their home in Williamsburg, Virginia on May 27 to go on a cross-country road-trip vacation. The couple was due to arrive in Palm Springs on or about June 2.
On June 13, the U.S Bureau of Land Management notified the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department of a vehicle, later confirmed to be owned by the Schmeirers, that was parked at the Amboy Crater Trailhead parking lot for approximately 10 days and appeared to be abandoned.
That same day, Sheriff’s conducted an aerial search but were unable to locate the Schmeirers.
According to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department Morongo Basin Station, a more extensive search of the area on June 16 using deputies, a helicopter, volunteers, and a trained search dog found the remains of a man that matched the description of William Schmeirer. Positive identification of the body and a cause of death is pending from the coroner’s office.
Susan Schmeirer has not yet been found. The sheriff’s department is continuing the search and volunteers are scheduled to conduct another major search operation of the Amboy Crater area this weekend.
Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to call the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Morongo Basin Station at (760)366-4175. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may contact We-Tip at 1-888-78-CRIME.
The Sheriff’s Department warns people not to conduct their own searches due to the dangers from rising temperatures and the lack of cell phone service in the very remote desert area.
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