>> AFTER DAYS OF UNCERTAINTY, THE FAMILY OF KATHY MARTINEZ, 61, FROM ORLAND, RECEIVED THE NEWS THEY FEARED YESTERDAY. SHE WAS THE THIRD KNOWN VICTIM OF THE WEEKEND’S DANGEROUS FLOOD IN SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO COUNTY. CELL PHONE DATA SHOWED THEIR LAST KNOWN LOCATION ON NEW HOPE ROAD NEAR GALT. NEAR THE AREA WHERE HER SON SAYS HE FOUND HER CAR YESTERDAY AFTER REPORTING IT TO THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE TWO DAYS EARLIER. IT’S EXCITING DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME WE DO ALL THE FOOTWORK TO FIND HER, MARTINEZ’ SON TOLD US ON THE PHONE. WE CHECKED THE OFFICE OF THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY SHERIFF. >> OF COURSE WE FEEL WITH THE FAMILY AND EXPRESS OUR SYMPATHY TO THEM. EVERYTHING WILL BE TAKEN BY PRIORITY. IF MISSING PERSONS ARE AT RISK, THEY HAVE PRIORITY. >> SERGEANT AMAR GANDHI SAYS FACTORS LIKE SOMEONE’S AGE OR WHETHER LIFE-SAVING MEDICATION IS NEEDED. MARTINEZ WAS NOT. >> IT IS RATHER A LEGAL TERM THAT IS DEFINED AND IT IS A VERY SPECIFIC SET OF CRITERIA THAT MUST BE MET BEFORE WE, AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT, CAN MARK YOU AS A MISSING PERSON DANGER. >> INDEPENDENT OF GANDHI SAYS THAT THE DEPUTS WORKED TO FIND MARTINEZ EVEN WHEN PORTIONS OF THE NEW HOPE ROAD WERE STILL UNDERWATER. >> THESE STEPS WERE TAKEN BUT AREAS THAT WERE NOT ACCESSIBLE AT THIS TIME. I CAN’T TELL YOU THAT YOU WILL GO EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS FINALLY DISCOVERED, BUT I CAN TELL YOU FOR SURE YOU HAVE CHECKED OUT. >> LAST NIGHT THE COSUMNES FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO SKIP A BOAT TO RECOVER HER BODY. THE MARTINEZ FAMILY SAYS SHE WAS AN AMAZING PERSON. A WONDERFUL MOTHER AND A CARING AND LOVING AUNT AND SISTER. IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY, LYSEE MITRI, KCRA 3 NEWS. >> HER SON SAYS HIS YOUNGER BROTHER WAS STUCK IN THE MUD AND MARTINEZ WAS DRIVING FROM ORLAND TO TRY TO HELP HIM BUT NEVER DID IT
3 people found dead after Sacramento County flooding identified
Updated: 11:00 PM PST January 5, 2023
The Sacramento County coroner has identified all three people found dead in the southern part of the county after the New Year’s Eve storm flooding. They are: Steven Sampson, 45, from McAlester, Oklahoma. Katherine Martinez, 61, of Orland, California. Mei Keng Lam, 57, from San Leandro, California. Martinez’s body was found Wednesday in a submerged vehicle affected by the flooding on New Hope Road west of Orr Road, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office confirmed. Part of the New Hope Road is still flooded in this area west of Galt. Martinez’s family said they found their car themselves after reporting her missing to the sheriff’s office two days earlier. We feel and offer our condolences to the family,” said Amar Gandhi, spokesman for the sheriff’s office of Sacramento County. Martinez was not classified as “endangered” when she was reported missing, Gandhi said. In order to be classified as endangered, certain criteria are required, he explained. Hours before Martinez was found, Lam’s body was found near Dillard Road east of Highway 99, about a 30-minute drive away, the California Highway Patrol said. Officials said Lam’s body was discovered in a field around 10 a.m. CHP strongly suspects she was linked to a stranded car. On Sunday, authorities discovered Sampson’s body in a submerged vehicle in the same area near Highway 99.| MORE | Dozens rescued from Highway 99 after vehicles get stuck in flood water; 1 found dead Flooding on this portion of Highway 99 had caused several vehicles to become stuck in the roadway. Dozens of people were rescued over the weekend. Meanwhile, a man wanted in connection with an attack that injured two people in El Dorado County last month was found dead Wednesday in the South Fork of the American River, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said with . Investigators are trying to determine the cause of death. – Hilda Flores contributed to this story.
The Sacramento County coroner has identified all three people found dead in the southern part of the county after the New Year’s Eve storm flooding.
They are:
- Steven Sampson, 45, of McAlester, Oklahoma.
- Katherine Martinez, 61, of Orland, California.
- Mei Keng Lam, 57, from San Leandro, California.
Martinez’s body was found Wednesday in a submerged vehicle affected by the flooding on New Hope Road west of Orr Road, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
Part of the New Hope Road is still flooded in this area west of Galt.
Martinez’s family said they found her car themselves after reporting her missing to the sheriff’s office two days earlier.
“It’s annoying at this difficult time that we put in all the legwork to find her,” Martinez’s son said over the phone.
“Obviously we feel and extend our condolences to the family,” said Amar Gandhi, spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
Martinez was not classified as “endangered” when she was reported missing, Gandhi said. To be classified as endangered, certain criteria must be met, he explained.
Hours before Martinez was found, Lam’s body was found near Dillard Road east of Highway 99, about a 30-minute drive away, the California Highway Patrol said.
Officials said Lam’s body was discovered in a field around 10 a.m. CHP strongly suspects she was linked to a stranded car.
On Sunday, authorities discovered Sampson’s body in a submerged vehicle in the same area near Highway 99.
| MORE | Dozens rescued from Highway 99 after vehicles get stuck in flood water; 1 found dead
Flooding on that portion of Highway 99 had caused several vehicles to become stuck in the roadway. Dozens of people were rescued over the weekend.
Meanwhile, a man wanted in connection with an attack that injured two people in El Dorado County last month was found dead Wednesday in the South Fork of the American River, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said . Investigators are looking for the cause of death.
–Hilda Flores contributed to this story.
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