“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of this young man, and we extend our deep appreciation for the law enforcement and search and rescue teams who searched in difficult terrain in very hot weather to look for him.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
AUBURN – On August 25, 2026, search teams from a multitude of agencies discovered the body of a young man whose family reported him missing on August 22nd. Ian Roberts, 24, was last known to be in the Overlook Park area of the State Recreation Area in Auburn during the mid-morning hours of August 21st.
Search crews are utilized both traditional and fixed-wing drones, while the Placer County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit searched the river and shoreline areas.
The Auburn Police Department will investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. At this time, it appears Roberts slipped and fell down a steep embankment. There is no indication of foul play.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office extended its sincere appreciation to the hundreds of search and rescue volunteers who came from across Northern California to assist in the search.
Teams that assisted include:
Auburn Police Department
Nevada County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue
Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue Team Inc
Alameda County Sheriff’s Office – Search and Rescue Unit
CALSAR
CARDA – California Rescue Dog Association
Contra Costa Search and Rescue Team
El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue
Marin County Search and Rescue
California State Parks
Yolo County Search and Rescue
Napa County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue
Yuba County Search & Rescue
CAL FIRE NEU/Placer County Fire
