Tragic Discovery Ends Month-Long Search
After more than a month of frantic searching, Whisper Owens and her eight-month-old daughter, Sandra McCarthy, were found d**d. Their 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer had been submerged beneath a bridge along Highway 120 and Victory Avenue near Oakdale, California. Search teams located the SUV using sonar equipment on Sunday, August 17, 2025, and carefully pulled it from the water.
Inside, both mother and child were found together. Investigators noted that Whisper appeared to have instinctively tried to shield her daughter, a final act of love that left many heartbroken. How the SUV ended up in the canal remains unclear. For the family, however, the discovery, though devastating, brought an end to weeks of agonizing uncertainty.
Last Steps Before the Tragedy
Whisper left her mother’s home in Fresno on July 15, planning to return to Sacramento. She never arrived. Authorities tracked her phone near the canal, leading to the search area. Surveillance footage showed her visiting family and stopping briefly at a smoke shop along the way, tending to her baby before continuing the journey. The last confirmed sighting of her Trailblazer came from traffic cameras near Shaffer and Bellevue Roads. After that, both mother and child vanished.
Family Reacts to Devastating Loss
The Owens family described the news as crushing. Richard Owens, Whisper’s brother, spoke through tears about the heartbreak of losing a child who never had a chance to grow. He reflected on how Whisper’s surviving children—ages 16, 9, and 3—will forever feel the absence of their baby sister. Yet, he admitted a quiet relief that the family would not be haunted by unanswered questions.
Richard also shared personal tributes on social media, expressing gratitude to search teams and volunteers who dedicated countless hours to finding answers. For weeks, relatives retraced Whisper’s steps, distributed flyers, and canvassed roadways between Fresno and Sacramento.
Investigation Reveals Fragments of the Day
Authorities pieced together Whisper’s final hours. She visited her mother before her doctor’s appointment, stopped at her brother’s home, and briefly paused at a smoke shop. Officials found no immediate evidence of foul play. Initially, her partner—the baby’s father—was not alarmed, knowing she often stayed with her mother. But after three days of no contact, concern turned to fear.
Vickie Torres, Whisper’s mother, said she worried about her daughter’s ongoing health struggles, including high bl0*d pressure following pregnancy complications. The family consistently emphasized that Whisper would never simply disappear. She was devoted to her children, and her sudden absence was out of character.
Community Support Amidst Grief
The search inspired a regional outpouring of support. Andrea McCarty, Whisper’s eldest daughter, appealed online for help, sharing the vehicle description, timeline, and growing desperation. Communities across the area joined efforts to locate mother and baby, clinging to hope.
When the Trailblazer was finally raised, hope gave way to grief. The discovery offered long-sought closure, but at a heartbreaking cost. Investigators now work to determine how the SUV ended up submerged.
Remembering Whisper and Sandra
Whisper Owens and Sandra McCarthy leave behind grieving family members and a community that rallied tirelessly. Though their lives ended far too soon, they are remembered for their love and resilience—a mother who tried to protect her child, and a daughter whose life had just begun.
