What began as an ordinary trip to a doctor’s appointment ended in heartbreak. After weeks of unanswered questions, the search for a missing Sacramento mother and her baby has ended with tragedy.
Search teams confirmed that 31-year-old Whisper Owens and her 8-month-old daughter, Sandra McCarthy, were found dead inside a submerged SUV in Northern California more than a month after they disappeared.
On Sunday, August 17, 2025, divers using sonar equipment located Whisper’s 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer lodged beneath a bridge at Highway 120 and Victory Avenue near Oakdale. Inside the vehicle were Whisper and her baby. Investigators said Whisper appeared to have tried to shield her daughter in her final moments.
The discovery closes a devastating chapter that began July 15, when Whisper set out from Fresno to return to Sacramento after a medical appointment and visits with family. She never arrived home. Traffic cameras and surveillance video briefly tracked her journey — including a stop at a smoke shop to care for her baby — before all traces vanished.
Authorities traced her phone signal near the canal, leading searchers to the location where her vehicle was later recovered. Photos from the scene showed the overturned SUV being pulled from the water with cables as emergency crews stood by.
For weeks, Whisper’s disappearance left her family in agony. Flyers were distributed, shelters checked, and online appeals circulated as her loved ones begged for answers. Her partner and the father of her youngest children initially thought she had extended her stay with her mother, but when days passed with no word, fear took over.
Family members said Whisper had battled health issues since her pregnancy, including high blood pressure, and worried she may have suffered a medical emergency while driving. She leaves behind three other children — ages 16, 9, and 3 — now left to grieve alongside extended family.
Her brother, Richard Owens, described the loss as unbearable, mourning not only the death of his sister but also the life his infant niece never had the chance to live. He found some comfort in knowing the search was over and that the family would not have to spend years wondering what happened.
He later posted a heartfelt tribute online, thanking search teams and community members for their efforts. Whisper’s mother, Vickie Torres, also reflected on the tragic loss, remembering her daughter’s kindness and devotion as a mother.
Authorities have not yet determined how the SUV ended up submerged in the canal, and the investigation remains open. For the family, however, the long wait is over — replaced now with grief, mourning, and the painful task of moving forward.