Missing teen’s vehicle located
Officials say they’ve found the car of a missing South Bay teen but still haven’t been able to find her after a month of searching.
Katherine Schneider, 17, drove away from her Saratoga home in a white 2019 Honda Accord on July 5 and never returned, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff ’s Office.
On Monday, the sheriff’s office located her car on Skyline Boulevard, the road leading through Castle Rock State Park in Los Gatos, but did not find Schneider, according to a press release shared by a social media account set up to find tips about Schneider’s location.
Castle Rock State Park encompasses the highest ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains and more than 5,000 acres of wildlands, according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The department also notes that cell service is not available within the park. Schneider’s mother, Nola Schneider, shared on social media that her daughter did not have her cell phone, ID or any money with her when she left her home.
“We reported Katie’s disappearance immediately to law enforcement and have subsequently followed their guidance and direction,” Nola Schneider posted on the one-month anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance. “We continue to work closely with law enforcement and have delayed going public in part because we wished to honor their efforts to find Katie. At the same time, because Katie is a shy, introverted child, we have tried to protect her privacy, and to do whatever we can to find her.”
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has described Katherine Schneider as 5 feet 5 inches tall and approximately 115 pounds with blue eyes and long, straight blond hair. Anyone with potential information about the case is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at (408) 8084500 or PIO@shf.sccgov.org, or to reach the Sheriff’s Office Investigative Services anonymous tip line at 408-808-4431.