The rescue of a 61-year old Rancho Santa Margarita woman who lay injured on the bed of Tijeras Creek for three days was the result of persistance and hard work by Sheriff's Deputies, Reserve Deputies and Professional Services Responders.

Reserve Sergeant Michael Losquadro gives an account below.

The Orange County Register reports on extended search for missing woman.

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – A 61-year-old Rancho Santa Margarita woman who disappeared after an argument with her husband has been found alive in the Tijeras Creek bed after spending more than three days alone in the countryside.

The woman suffered broken bones, including a broken arm, and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

To read the whole story click here.

KCBS2 and KCAL9 had a report on the rescue also. To view it click here.

A Walk in the Canyon
By Reserve Sergeant Michael Losquadro

What started as an argument between a Rancho Santa Margarita husband and a wife, and ended up a life and death situation for a local resident.  After a brief argument Saturday morning, October 12th, Sirpa Lee left her home for a walk in the nearby Tijeras Creek.  She left her mobile phone, took no food, water or normal hiking supplies.  Ms. Lee often went to this wilderness area, and expected to return before sundown.  When she didn’t return, her husband and family members became concerned and called the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

What followed was a three day ordeal for Ms. Lee as frustrated deputies, family, friends and civilian volunteers scoured the nearby hiking trails and rough canyon.  [more]

The Orange County Sheriff's Department’s Search & Rescue Reserve Unit would normally be on scene with scores of searchers; however, more than half of its unit was in Barstow for an annual conference and training weekend.  As they returned Sunday afternoon to Orange County, they were dispatched to participate in the search.

First on the scene were Reserve Sergeant Don Hanson and his veteran bloodhound, Sonsee.  Backed up by Reserve Deputies William and Maura Monroe, Reserve Sergeant Hanson conducted the initial search around noon Sunday, but was unable to get a good scent trail, possibly because this was an area Ms. Lee frequented.
By 4:00 p.m. it became clear additional resources would be required, and a full-unit call was put out at 4:30 p.m.  Reserve Sergeant Greg Bendel took over from Reserve Sergeant Hanson, and he launched a traditional search pattern with 10 deputies and civilian volunteers in the Tijeras Creek Golf Club area.  Duke was overhead, and bike-mounted deputies patrolled the trails.  They continued to search from the Antonio Bridge area south until well past nightfall. 

Searchers called out for Ms. Lee, but there was no sign; no clothing, no solid tracks, and no solid leads.  The search was suspended for the night.

Monday brought renewed efforts with added resources brought in to supplement the normal patrol deputies.  Family and friends continued their search – all the while convinced Ms. Lee was in the area somewhere.  Homicide detectives were on scene conducting preliminary investigations should this become a criminal case.  Reserve Lieutenat Chuck Williams and his human remains detection dog, Charlee conducted a search of the creek-bed area, but with no solid hits or clues identified in the search area.

The search continued Tuesday with regular deputies on horseback, ATVs, Duke, and another contingent of the Reserve Search & Rescue Unit.  The SRRU deputies and civilians arrived on scene at 3:00 p.m. and coordinated their efforts with the patrol sergeant.  Four teams were dispatched to the Tijeras Creek Golf Club, with three directed south, and one team sent north.  Searchers found several homeless encampments in the thick brush, but still no sign of Ms. Lee.

As Reserve Lieutenant Williams (acting as the incident commander for the SRRU) interviewed family and friends and studied photos of the search area, it became clear Ms. Lee often frequented an area north of the previous search areas.  The new information was relayed to team 4 (the team originally sent northbound) and within 15 minutes word came over the radio that they had located the missing individual.  Reserve Deputy Al Lenhard and Professional Services Responder Lloyd Bumanglag heard calls for help, and soon thereafter had made contact with Ms. Lee.  They began an initial medical assessment.  The other three teams began converging in the general direction of team 4, but because the brush was so thick, it was extremely difficult to get a confirmed location.  Team 4 was deep in the canyon, at the creek, but could not see landmarks to vector other units to their location.  PSR Bumanglag climbed to a high point and was finally seen by Reserve Sergeant Michael Losquadro.  Reserve Sergeant Losquadro directed Duke to the location, but the trees were so thick Duke was unable to be of direct assistance.  Reserve Sergeant Losquadro also called in the Orange County Fire Authority and Medix ambulance personnel.

Now that searchers had located, and identified the subject’s exact location, OCFA paramedics and EMTs were directed to the scene by Reserve Deputy Bill Lakow, PSRs Lori Mayfield, Vic Rodriguez, Brian Clark and Cindi Powalski.  The brush was so thick the teams had to be positioned to show the routing to the responding medics.  

Ms. Lee was given a thorough medical evaluation by the paramedics and she was splinted, bandaged, and packaged into a stokes basket for transport out of the canyon.  A low-haul rig line was established, and Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters worked together to bring the patient up to the waiting ambulance and Ms. Lee’s husband and friends. 

Once the ambulance departed, Mr. Lee returned to the command post to thank the searchers before he was driven by family members to nearby Mission Hospital.

Special thanks to the following reserve personnel who responded over the three days of searching:  R. Lt. M. Beekman, R. Lt. P. Peters, R. Lt. C. Williams, R. Sgt. G. Bendel, R. Sgt. D. Hanson, R. Sgt. M. Losquadro, Reserve Deputies M. Anthony, F. Coppin, W. Lakow, A. Lenhard, A. Lenning, M. Monroe, W. Monroe, PSRs L. Bumanglag, S. Chan, B. Clark, L. Mayfield, C. Powalski, V. Rodriguez, J. Wood and K-9s Charlee and Sonsee.