Rescuer Dies Looking For Missing Mount Baldy Hiker

MT. BALDY (CBSLA) — A San Bernardino Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue team member has died while searching for a missing hiker on Mount Baldy.

Timothy Staples, 32, was a nine year veteran of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. The newly-married Staples was also a beloved teacher at La Verne's Damien High School, which is planning a prayer service for him on Monday. Students held a candlelight vigil for Staples at the school Saturday night.

"Our search and rescue volunteers give us themselves and their time selflessly to try to rescue folks that have become lost. And this is an example of what they are willing to give," said San Berardino County Sheriff John McMahon.

According to SBCSD, Staples was lost after being separated from his partner Saturday afternoon. An air search later located him unresponsive on the ice and snow. A medic was lowered down from a helicopter and determined that Staples was dead. It's believed he may have taken a fatal fall on one of the notoriously narrow, ice covered trails.

"The cause and circumstances surrounding this incident are unknown and investigators are working to determine exactly what occurred. ALL search operations for Mr. Mokkapoti are suspended: SAR crews are being recalled from the mountain and search operations are being re-evaluated," SBCSD said in a statement.

Staples was one of the 126 people working in 23 teams searching large sections of Mt. Baldy for the missing hiker, Sree Mokkapati, of Irvine, last seen Sunday hiking on Mount Baldy.

Mokkapati, 52, was hiking that weekend with some friends, but when his group decided they wanted to turn around, he said he wanted to keep heading toward the summit alone. And when he failed to return to his car that afternoon, his friends got worried and called for help.

"We hope to find him soon, and we're praying that he comes back home safely and sound," Shravan Mokkapati, the man's son, said. "And we wish he takes whatever precautions he has to take to survive out there."

Along with search teams from local law enforcement agencies, the family has hired a private helicopter to help search for the man who the family said was an experienced hiker with knowledge of the mountain.

"He has sticks, and he has clamps," his son said, "a lot of the gear you need to survive out here in the snow."