Saeed Emadi, a 66-year-old man from San Ramon, was reported missing on July 8, 2020, in El Dorado County, California. Emadi was camping and hiking with friends near the Ice House Reservoir in the El Dorado National Forest. He became separated from his companions after crossing Silver Creek near Strawberry Point. Unable to turn back, he continued on his own. At approximately 3:30 p.m.
that day, Emadi made a phone call to his friends, stating that he was on a hill near a road with the lake below him and that he was lost. This was the last time anyone heard from him.
At the time of his disappearance, Emadi was described as being 6-foot-2 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray baseball cap, a white or light gray and white striped button-down short-sleeved shirt, light gray and white striped shorts, black ankle socks, blue tennis shoes, and black and silver headphones. Emadi was in good physical condition and had experience with day hikes. His family described him as having a "never quit" attitude and knowledge of foraging for edible wild plants. However, he was not familiar with the heavily wooded terrain of the area and lacked climbing experience. It is also noted that Emadi is diabetic and likely did not have his medication with him on the hike.
An extensive search and rescue operation was launched immediately, involving numerous volunteers and officers who combed the trails around the reservoir. Search crews from 19 counties, utilizing helicopters and drones, scoured the mountainous region. A potentially significant clue emerged when searchers found a shoeprint about a mile from where Emadi was last seen. His son, Bijan Emadi, confirmed that after providing the search and rescue team with information about his father's recently purchased Costco shoes, they were able to quickly match the print.
Despite the initial hope that the shoeprint would lead to his rescue, the search for Saeed Emadi has not yet led to his discovery, and his case remains unsolved. The search effort was eventually scaled back to a limited, ongoing status, meaning active searches are not conducted daily. The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the case.Last Seen: Jul 8, 2020
