Rivera’s son was in the boat, but they couldn’t find her anywhere. A life jacket was found in the boat and the boy was wearing another. Investigators found Rivera’s bag and identification, but no other clues in the boat. Rivera has presumably been killed.
The lake remains closed to the public as the search continues.
“We don’t know if they will find her in five minutes or in five days, so we will continue this effort still,” said Capt. Eric Buschow, spokesman for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office has partnered with Coast Guard and Tulare County finders in the recovery effort. The researchers are using a lateral scanning probe in the water with visibility of just one foot, Buschow said. A specially trained dog is also being used in the search. The dog is trained to sniff just above the surface and alert handlers if they feel a body underwater.
The sonar team released a couple of interesting images during the search on Thursday night. Those areas have been searched, but nothing found.
Piru Lake is the result of a canyon that was dammed and flooded. It is approximately 2 miles long and approximately 130 feet deep at its deepest point.
“There is a flow to this lake,” said Buschow. “Even with that current, wherever it has fallen, they are confident that they will find it there.”
A plan is planned to drop the lake level for the next month in order to carry out the seismic adaptation of the dam. That plan was in effect long before Rivera’s disappearance, according to Buschow.
Detectives have spoken to Rivera’s son and, as a result of that conversation, they do not believe Rivera has reached shore, he said.
CNN’s Faith Karimi, Dakin Andone, and Stella Chan contributed to this report.
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