Search Continues For Missing Hiker Cody Michael Near Donner Summit
DONNER SUMMIT (CBS13) — The end of Day 1 of searching ended with no sign of Cody Michael. The 23-year-old Rocklin man went hiking with his dog Sunday and the last his family heard from Cody was 10:30am Monday.
His family said they received a text Monday morning saying he was cold, but fine and going to fish a bit before heading back.
But hours later, nothing and no word from Cody.
"That was my cue that yeah there's something definitely wrong," said Rula Khatib who heard the news from a Placer County Sheriff's post.
"My heart just sunk and I didn't need to finish the post," she said.
Khatib is Cody's boss at Primos in Rocklin, but says he's more like a son.
"I have been praying all morning for his safe return and I know that my heart he's ok. He's either lost or he's probably sitting somewhere waiting for the search party to find him," she said.
They believe he hiked 3 miles into the woods to Loch Levin Lake with his trusted pal Bauer, a German Shepard, the same hike he made with his father 3 years ago.
"That dog would never ever leave his sight there's no way for Cody would leave him behind. There's no separation there," she said.
Search and rescue crews scoured the rugged terrain for hours, but as night falls, they had to pack it in and wait for daylight.
"God please let them be OK," Khatib is heartbroken as is family, hoping and praying for a safe return.
"He's becoming a police officer. Graduated school and is on his way to great career, so he's one of them. He's one of the good guys. He's one of the heroes and heroes always come back," she said.
A CHP helicopter flew over the area, but had no luck overnight.
Crews will hit the trail at 7 a.m. Wednesday with at least 35 people.
