State Park rangers assist in search and recovery
NEVADA CITY – On July 8, 2025, a Nevada County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue (NCSSAR) volunteer was conducting aerial searches with a drone for missing 50-year-old Rebecca Heinowitz, of Barrytown, New York, when human remains were discovered along a rocky shore, adjacent to the water’s edge of the Yuba River at approximately 10:58 a.m.
The remains were in a highly remote area, approximately 1.5 miles downstream from Jones Bar in Nevada City, which is a difficult terrain to reach by foot. As a result, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) called upon partners for mutual aid from the CHP – Air Operations (CHP) H20 helicopter, the Nevada County Consolidated FD (NCCFD) Helicopter Rescue Technician (HRT) team, and State Parks.
In the afternoon hours, an NCSO deputy sheriff and an NCCFD HRT team member, who is skilled in aerial rescues, were flown to the scene and safely dropped in, one at a time. The duo retrieved the remains and were lifted out by H20 at approximately 1:45 p.m.
Due to the condition of the remains, it will take several weeks before positive identification can be made.
Heinowitz was last seen on May 24, 2025 struggling in the Yuba River, just upstream from the South Yuba Bridge and was the primary focus of the July 8th search efforts. The search for Heinowitz remained ongoing by members of NCSO and NCSSAR volunteers for several weeks and included use of drones, K9 cadaver dogs, off-highway vehicles, and on foot.
The Sheriff’s Office expressed its gratitude to CHP, NCCFD HRT, and State Parks for their support in the search for Heinowitz and recovery of the remains.
“Public safety professionals don’t give up easily. They care, they don’t forget. They pull resources together to search, rescue and recover, to save lives and also to provide closure to cases and families,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona. “We are proud of the work they do.”
