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Surveillance video reveals more about missing couple headed for Palm Springs

Published June 25, 2018 8:16 PM

Susan and William Schmeirer of Williamsburg, Virginia were due to arrive in Palm Springs on June 2. They had left their home in Virginia on May 27 for the cross country trip. Instead, their vehicle was found abandoned in the parking lot of the Amboy Crater Trailhead on June 13.

The U.S Bureau of Land Management told the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department the vehicle had been parked there for approximately 10 days.

Video surveillance from the Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark showed the Schmeirers were still alive on the morning of June 2.

Two searches have taken place since the couple was reported missing. During the first search on June 16, the remains of a man that matched the description of William Schmeirer were found. Positive identification of the body and a cause of death is pending from the coroner’s office.

This past weekend, sheriff’s department crews continued the search for Susan Schmeirer in the area of Amboy Crater. According to an updated news release by the San Bernadino County Sheriff’s Department, by 10:30 a.m., ground temperatures reached 130 degrees and the use of search dogs was terminated. By 2 p.m., ground temperatures reached 165 degrees and the rough terrain and weather conditions disabled two sheriff’s department off-highway search and rescue vehicles.