LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The mother of 17-year-old Katie Schneider, a missing teenager from California, has released a statement following the discovery of human remains during the search for her daughter.
Katie's mother, Nola Schneider, conveyed through her social media posts that she had been informed of her daughter's death due to a car accident, though law enforcement officials are yet to officially confirm the news.
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUS) has reported a significant number of missing individuals throughout California.
As per NamUS data, there are currently 3,348 unresolved missing persons cases, while 3,847 cases have been resolved across the state.
When did Katie Schneider go missing?
Katherine Katie Schneider was last seen departing her Saratoga residence in a white 2019 Honda Accord on July 5.
The search for the teenager led to the discovery of her vehicle near Castle Rock State Park, southwest of San Jose. Then, on August 12, human remains were found nearby.
At the time, officials from the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office had disclosed that the county's medical examiner was conducting an investigation to ascertain the identity of the individual based on the remains discovered. These developments were reported by ABC7.
Katie Schneider's mother confirms daughter's tragic passing in car accident
While law enforcement officials have not yet provided an update regarding the identity of the person found, Katie's mother, Nola Schneider, took to social media in her grief. She confirmed that the remains did indeed belong to her daughter Katie and that she had died in the car accident.
Schneider shared the heartbreaking news, saying, "It's with heavy hearts that we must announce the devastating news that our beloved Katie Schneider has passed away in a car accident."
"The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office informed us that Katie's remains were found in the vicinity of her vehicle in a ravine near Castle Rock State Park. At this time, the circumstances surrounding the heartbreaking incident are still under investigation," Schneider wrote.
Describing Katie, Schneider mentioned, "It is hard to put into words how much Katie will be missed. Katie was a bright light that brought emotional vibrancy to our everyday lives. She radiated authenticity, thoughtfulness, a great sense of humor, and an unyielding determination. She taught us all how to live our biggest life without reservation."
Schneider expressed gratitude for the support received during the search and extended her thanks to various entities and individuals involved in the effort.
These included the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, Search and Rescue teams, federal agencies, FindingKids.org, National Center for Missing and Exploited Kids, private investigators, friends, Katie's friends, Saratoga school personnel, families with home security video, and many others.
As the family grapples with the profound loss of Katie, Nola Schneider requested privacy to navigate through their grief.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation, and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office is continuing its efforts to determine the cause and circumstances of Katie Schneider's tragic death.
