Full Notification

DATE:  June 29, 2020 

INCIDENT: Missing/Lost Hiker Located

LOCATION: Mount Baldy – near Fish Fork at the 7800 foot level

VICTIM(S): Sreenivas "Sree" Mokkapati, 52-year old, male resident of Irvine 

SUMMARY:  UPDATE:  June 29, 2020
On June 19, 2020, two hikers located human remains on the northwest side of Mt. Baldy in Los Angeles County.  The remains were found near the top of Fish Fork at the 7800-foot level.  The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department recovered the body and the County Medical Examiner positively identified the remains to be Sreenivas "Sree" Mokkapati, on June 27. 
Mr. Mokkapati was reported missing by his friends on December 8, 2019, after becoming separated from his group.  The search continued daily with San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue Volunteers along with search and rescue members from San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Tulare, Fresno, San Mateo and Kern Counties.  Helicopters from San Bernardino and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Departments assisted in the search efforts.
On Saturday, December 14, 2019, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department - Search and Rescue team member Timothy Staples died while searching for Mr. Mokkapati.  Staples was one of the 126 people working in 23 teams searching large sections of Mt. Baldy. He was a dedicated volunteer and a 9-year veteran with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department – Search and Rescue Team assigned to the West Valley Search and Rescue Unit. The search operations that began on December 8, were suspended at that time due to weather conditions and treacherous terrain. 
In the weeks that followed, aerial searches continued in hopes of locating Mr. Mokkapati. In May of this year, after the snow started to melt, ground search and rescue members returned to Mt. Baldy to search for Mr. Mokkapati.   
The department would like to thank all the allied agencies for their assistance during this difficult search. 

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UPDATE: The search is continuing on Mount Baldy for a missing/lost hiker; Sreenivas "Sree" Mokkapati of Irvine

Friday, December 13, 2019      10:00 a.m.
Update on Mount Baldy Search & Rescue for Sree Mokkapati -

73 Search & Rescue volunteer members from 10 counties throughout California have responded to Mount Baldy to assist in the search for Sree Mokkapati. Volunteers responded from Mono, San Mateo, Fresno, Marin, Tulare, Ventura, Riverside, Contra Costa, Los Angeles and Kern Counties. Several members of the National Ski Patrol are also assisting in the search.
A map is attached and outlines 34 square miles of search territory.
Air support is limited to patrolling the mountain. High winds have restricted the helicopters from inserting search teams at the higher elevations.
Life Bible Fellowship Church in Upland has graciously provided resources for the Mokkapati Family, housing for S&R volunteers to rest and an abundance of parking for the large number of vehicles involved in the search operation.
 
Reminder: To aid in the search of a missing hiker in the Mt. Baldy area, Angeles National Forest in cooperation with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department have closed parts of the Mt. Baldy area starting Dec. 12. The order is in effect until Dec. 31 or until the search and rescue operation ends.
 
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UPDATE: Thursday, December 12, 2019      12:30 p.m. 

Update on Mount Baldy Search & Rescue for Sree Mokkapati 

23 Search and Rescue volunteer members from San Bernardino, Tulare, Fresno, San Mateo and Los Angeles Counties are involved in the search today. 

Air support is limited due to high winds. 

Reminder: To aid in the search of a missing hiker in the Mt. Baldy area, Angeles National Forest in cooperation with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department have closed parts of the Mt. Baldy area starting Dec. 12. The order is in effect until Dec. 31 or until the search and rescue operation ends. 


UPDATE: Wednesday, December 11, 2019             8:00 a.m. 

Update on Mount Baldy Search & Rescue for Sree Mokkapati 

The search is ongoing with 7 Search and Rescue volunteer members from San Bernardino, San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles Counties. They will continue to search the mountain looking for any sign of Sree and his direction of travel. 

Sheriff’s Aviation is assisting with two helicopters; one of them is being used primarily to insert the search parties on specific areas of the mountain. 

Updates will be issued as new information becomes available. 

UPDATE: Tuesday, December 10, 2019 

The search for Sreenivas ‘Sree’ Mokkapati continues on Mount Baldy. 
The search efforts include 19 Search & Rescue personnel, all Alpine Teams, from San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern and San Diego Counties. Helicopters from San Bernardino and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Departments are involved in the search efforts. The weather conditions are favorable for air support. 
Mr. Mokkapati is considered an experienced hiker and has hiked Mount Baldy a number of times. He was prepared for a day hike and has limited supplies. 
The search conditions today have snow at about 7000-7500 feet and in some higher elevations the snow is waist deep. 
The search teams are searching at various points on the mountain and will search until the lack of light or conditions prevent them from safely continuing.  
Search & Rescue coordinators are preparing for the search to resume in the morning if necessary.  
  
  
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DATE/TIME: December 8, 2019 / 1600hrs 

INCIDENT: Missing/Lost Hiker 

LOCATION: Mount Baldy 

VICTIM(S): Sreenivas "Sree" Mokkapati, 52-year old, male resident of Irvine 

SUMMARY: During the early morning hours of Sunday, December 8, 2019, four hikers started their trek from the Village at Bear Flats to the Mt Baldy Summit. At some point during the hike, Sreenivas "Sree" Mokkapati was separated from the group. After returning to their car, Sree's companions contacted Sheriff's Dispatch. 

Sheriff's Search and Rescue along with Sheriff's Aviation began a coordinated search. The search went through the night and is currently ongoing. Volunteer search and rescue teams are deployed on the mountain. Sree was last seen wearing a gray "puffy" jacket and gray pants. 

Anyone with information regarding this search is urged to contact Fontana Sheriff’s Station, Sergeant Al Huff or Detective Brent Meelker at (909) 453-5392 or (909) 677-9436. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com 

Refer: Sergeant Al Huff | Detective Brent Meelker 

Station: Fontana Sheriff's Station 

Phone No. (909) 356-6767 

Case No. 031903190 

JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner 
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department