The Sandra Johnsen Hughes disappearance in Sierra National Forest

Sierra National ForestForest DisappearancesCaliforniaSandra Johnsen Hughes

Aug 2

Sandra Johnsen Hughes, disappeared July 4, 2020, Johnson Meadows, Sierra National Forest, California

Revised April 2024

Sandra Johnsen Hughes, 54, was last seen near Johnson Meadows in the Sierra National Forest near Fresno on July 4, 2020. Despite a large search, she remains missing and the circumstances around the case are somewhat bizarre.

Who is Sandra Hughes?

Sandra had moved from Hawaii to California in June and was on a solo camping trip, in part to escape the possibility of Covid-19 infection. She had trained to be a park ranger in college and was experienced in the outdoors. The last time she contacted relatives was on June 26. She is 5'3" and 150 pounds with brown eyes and shoulder-length brown hair that's been dyed blue.

The search

The Madera County Sheriff's office asked for the public's help in locating Sandra after they found her campsite near the Johnsons Meadow section of the forest in disarray on July 5. Her niece, Ashley Macus, wrote in a Facebook post, “The campsite found in the Johnson Meadows area (between Beasore and Minaret Rds) with her belongings was quite disheveled. Things were thrown about all over - almost as if her car and belongings had been emptied carelessly”. Ashley said the state of the campsite was very unusual, “she would never leave her campsite a mess. Even a piece of litter on the ground would bother her. “

Ashley described Hughes as someone who 'liked to move around a lot' as she doesn't have any children from her two previous marriages and said she was very organized.

Hikers reported seeing Sandra on July 4 and said she was barefoot and had a bruise on her face. they offered to help her, but she declined medical assistance.

On July 5, the authorities located Hughes' silver Saab in Chiquito Creek to the north of the campsite. They said it appeared to have crashed into a tree at a speed of less than 20 miles per hour before rolling into the ravine.

Officers and volunteers from more than a half dozen other sheriff's departments, dog teams, the California Highway Patrol, and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services combed the forest, and helicopters from the California Air National Guard conducted an aerial search. The search focused on the area, but there was no sign of Sandra.

Another sighting

On Sunday, August 9th, two hunters saw a woman leaning against a tree along Road 5S01 near Balasore Road, in the area of Chiquito Creek near Portuguese Overlook.

She did not wave them down, attempt contact, or appear distressed. Upon returning, they recognized her from a missing persons flyer and contacted the authorities. She appears to be visibly thinner than her last known photos.

What happened to Sandra?

Did Sandra somehow crash her vehicle and then become confused and disorientated, and then walk into the wilderness? What caused her campsite to be thrown into disarray? Was foul play involved, perhaps with a crazy character coming across her camp? According to her family, there is evidence she was planning to hike towards Yosemite, but she seems to have abandoned her belongings and was walking barefoot.

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