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January 28
1850 - Death Valley '49er William Robinson dies in Soledad Canyon from drinking too much cool water [story]
Leaving Death Valley


Search teams on the Eel River in Mendocino County found the vehicle belonging to the missing four-member family from Valencia, and the bodies of Sandeep Thottapilly, 41, and Saachi Thottapilly, his 9-year-old daughter, on Sunday, according to officials.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division has also identified the woman’s body recovered from the Eel River on Friday as being that of Soumya Thottapilly, Sandeep’s 38-year-old wife.

With three family members now accounted for, the search continues for the couple’s 12-year-old son, Siddhant.

The family was on a road trip from Portland to San Jose, traveling in their maroon 2016 Honda Pilot SUV, when the vehicle was reportedly seen plunging off of Highway 101 down an embankment into the rain-swollen Eel River on April 6.

The Thottapillys were reported missing by other family members on April 8, when search teams began looking.

Following updates on Thursday and Friday, here’s the Monday morning update from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:

“On 04-15-2018 approximately 70 searchers were continuing Search & Rescue efforts on the Eel River in Leggett, California.

“The search consisted of 21 water searchers which included 2 Jet Ski teams, 2 Boat teams and several Kayak/Carlson board teams.

“At approximately 11:30 AM a boating team noticed a gasoline smell emitting from the water approximately 1/2 mile north of the reported crash site (downstream). The searchers began to probe the water and located a vehicle submerged approximately 4-6 feet beneath the water.

“Search divers entered the water and were able to feel what they believed to be a person inside of the vehicle. Visibility was extremely poor and divers noted the vehicle was encased in a large amount of sediment from the river current.

“Recovery efforts continued for several hours and at approximately 6:30 PM the vehicle was partially removed from the Eel River by use of a tow truck. This provided searchers the ability to conduct a visual inspection of the inside of the vehicle.

“Searchers subsequently recovered the bodies of Sandeep Thottapilly and Saachi Thottapilly from inside the vehicle.

“On 04-15-20018 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division was also able to identify the adult female recovered from the Eel River on 04-13-2018 as being Soumya Thottapilly.

“Autopsies are expected to be performed this week as part of the Coroner’s investigation into the incident.

“Another search operation will be conducted on 04-16-2018 in and around the Eel River in an attempt to locate Siddhant Thottapilly who still remains missing.”

“The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following public safety agencies who assisted in the 04-15-2018 search:

* Marin County Fire Department

* Southern Marin Fire Department

* Kentfield Fire District

* Hopland Fire Department

* Rescue Solutions

* Piercy Volunteer Fire Department

* Leggett Volunteer Fire Department

* Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office

* Humboldt County Search & Rescue

* Napa County Search & Rescue

* Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team

* Little Lake Fire District

* Mendocino County Search & Rescue

* CalFire

* California Highway Patrol

* Graton Fire Department

* Santa Rosa Fire Department

* Sonoma Valley Fire Department

* Shasta County Sheriff’s Office

* Shasta County Search & Rescue.”

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7 Comments

  1. Truly a very sad story. So tragic. ?

  2. So sorry for your loss.God bless your family

  3. Rip- very sad story

  4. I’m a recent Canyon Country transplant to Idaho, but I follow California news. This story has broken my heart, such a tragedy, such a beautiful young family. Prayers to their whole family.

  5. It is very sad and my condolence with thier relative and friends

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026
SCV Food Pantry Set to Reopen After Unexpected Closure
The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry in Newhall is expected to reopen today, Wednesday, Jan. 28 after its unexpected closure on Monday, Jan. 26, according SCV Food Pantry Board Chair Andrew Taban.
Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026
WCHA Endorses American Academy of Pediatrics Vaccine Schedule
The California Department of Public Health, in coordination with its partners in the West Coast Health Alliance, endorses the 2026 American Academy of Pediatri Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule.
Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026
Amber Feldman Selected as 2026/27 Hart District Teacher of the Year
Amber Feldman, a Saugus High School social studies teacher, has been selected as the 2026/27 William S. Hart Union School District Teacher of the Year.
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The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation will host Lunar New Year 2026 celebrations from Feb. 12 through Feb. 28 at 59 parks throughout Los Angeles County.
Feb. 12-28: Celebrate Lunar New Year Across 59 L.A. County Parks
 The Music Center announced today that 71 outstanding high school school students, including Brooklyn Covington from Valencia high, from across Southern California have advanced as semifinalists in The Music Center’s 38th annual Spotlight program.
Valencia High Student Joins 71 SoCal High School Semifinalists in The Music Center’s 38th annual Spotlight
As a changing climate continues to warm the planet and thaws ancient permafrost, some people are concerned that long-dormant pathogens, or “zombie viruses,” could emerge from the newly thawed ground, unleashing new epidemics or pandemics on the world.
‘Zombie Viruses’ Make Great Science Fiction but Aren’t a Threat from Thawing Permafrost, CSUN Prof Says
The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry in Newhall is expected to reopen today, Wednesday, Jan. 28 after its unexpected closure on Monday, Jan. 26, according SCV Food Pantry Board Chair Andrew Taban.
SCV Food Pantry Set to Reopen After Unexpected Closure
<strong>1850</strong> - Death Valley '49er William Robinson dies in Soledad Canyon from drinking too much cool water [<a href="https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/wheat-49ers.htm" target="_blank">story</a>]<br> <a href="https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/wheat-49ers.htm" target="_blank"> <img src="https://scvhistory.com/gif/manly_leavingdeathvalley.jpg" alt="Leaving Death Valley" style="margin-top:6px;width:110px;border:0;"> </a>
The California Department of Public Health, in coordination with its partners in the West Coast Health Alliance, endorses the 2026 American Academy of Pediatri Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule.
WCHA Endorses American Academy of Pediatrics Vaccine Schedule
Amber Feldman, a Saugus High School social studies teacher, has been selected as the 2026/27 William S. Hart Union School District Teacher of the Year.
Amber Feldman Selected as 2026/27 Hart District Teacher of the Year
The William S. Hart Education Foundation Wednesday Webinar series is designed to help college-bound high school students and parents navigate the significant steps in college admissions.
WiSH Webinars Spotlight Athletic Recruiting, Performing Arts, Finances
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station will host the 41st Annual “All Schools Dance” on Thursday, March 12, 5-9 p.m. at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
March 12: SCV Sheriff’s Station Hosts 41st Annual ‘All School Dance’
The city of Santa Clarita invites the community to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the new Meditation Garden at Duane R. Harte Park, 26401 Riverrock Way, Santa Clarita, CA 91351, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m.
Feb. 3: Meditation Garden Ribbon Cutting at Duane R. Harte Park
The Master’s University Opera presents "Dido and Aeneas" Friday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on stage at The Master’s University Music Recital Hall, 24728 Quigley Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91321.
Jan. 30-31: The Master’s University Opera Presents ‘Dido and Aeneas’
Relay For Life of Santa Clarita Valley, a fundraiser to benefit the American Cancer Society, was recently honored with several “Spirit of Relay” Awards for the Western Region which includes California, Arizona, Hawaii and Guam.
Relay For Life of the Santa Clarita Valley Wins Regional ‘Spirit of Relay’ Awards
The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley has announced that applications are now open for the 2026 Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award.
Applications Open for Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award
The Master's University Lady Mustangs basketball team got its fifth GSAC win in as many tries on Saturday, Jan. 24 with a 67-53 win over Benedictine Mesa in The MacArthur Center.
Lady Mustangs Trounce BenU for Fifth Straight Win
The Master's University men's volleyball team swept the Long Island University Sharks in Friday night's (Jan. 23) matchup in The MacArthur Center.
Mustangs Sweep Long Island in Men’s Volleyball
College of the Canyons baseball lost both games of its home-and-away series vs. Saddleback College as the Cougars and Bobcats continued a now five-year-old tradition of playing on opening day.
Cougs Drop Season-Opening Series vs. Saddleback College
For the second time in as many games College of the Canyons sophomore Vivianna Alvarado scored in the final seconds to secure a conference victory for the women's basketball team, this time pushing the Cougars past Santa Monica College 54-52 on Saturday night, Jan. 24.
Canyons Wins Second Straight 54-52 Over Santa Monica
<strong>1970 - </strong>Gov. Ronald Reagan appoints Adrian Adams as Newhall's first "second" judge [<a href="https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/aa5001.htm" target="_blank">story</a>]<br> <a href="https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/aa5001.htm" target="_blank"> <img src="https://scvhistory.com/gif/aa5003t.jpg" alt="Adrian Adams" style="margin-top:6px;width:110px;border:0;"> </a>
The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation is looking for visionary leaders in the business landscape.
SCVEDC Seeks Candidates for Vice President of Business Development
The nonprofit Finally Family Homes is seeking volunteers for its Oasis Resource Center.
Finally Family Homes Seeking Volunteers for Oasis Resource Center
Salsa on One presents its Salsa Social, 7-11 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Margaritas Mexican Grill.
Jan. 28: Salsa Social at Margaritas Mexican Grill
Many of them started their careers behind typewriters, working for publications that counted their readers in the tens of thousands. Others helped break the glass ceiling or the color barriers reporting for radio, broadcast television and newspapers.
CSUN To Honor Distinguished Journalism Alumni
The College of the Canyons Foundation has named Ed Masterson as the recipient of the prestigious 2026 Silver Spur Community Service Award in recognition of his longtime community leadership and advocacy for nonprofit organizations in the Santa Clarita Valley.
COC to Honor Ed Masterson with 2026 Silver Spur Award
WiSH will be accepting audition submissions for Hart District's Got Talent Variety Showcase through Friday, Jan. 30 at 10 p.m.
Jan.30: Hart District’s Got Talent Audition Submissions Deadline
SCVNews.com