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A Mountain Angel, a Community United Below: Remembering Dortha Evans

A Mountain Angel, a Community United Below: Remembering Dortha Evans
As the community searched for a missing neighbor on October 7, a fleeting formation in the sky offered a moment of beauty, hope, and reflection.

By Anastasia Sprout | Mount Shasta Observer | October 8, 2026

Yesterday, on October 7, an unusual cloud formation appeared above the mountain. Its delicate, sweeping shape reminded me of an angel.

It seemed to be flying free and beautiful. I stopped to photograph it.

Later on Nextdoor I noted an urgent bulletin indicating that police activity was occurring in nearby Shastice Park. I was working and unable to look into it further.

Today, however, I learned the heartbreaking news that a local resident, Dortha Diane Evans, had been found deceased near the railroad tracks above the park, within walking distance of my house. I then realized that search and rescue teams had joined with local neighbors and been trying to find her close to the time I was taking the picture.

The image became something different to me then: a reminder of the fragility of life, the kindness of neighbors who show up for one another, and the mystery and beauty that sometimes accompany deep losses.

According to the Mount Shasta Police Department, Evans was last seen September 25, 2026. On October 1, Eskaton Washington Manor notified police that she was missing. Officers took a missing-person report and issued a Be on the Lookout (BOLO) notification to neighboring agencies.

On October 4, police requested a Silver Alert through the California Highway Patrol and distributed a missing-person flyer featuring recent photographs of Evans. Officers and U.S. Forest Service personnel searched on foot near Kingston Road and northeast toward the railroad tracks. Police also checked local hospitals.

The search intensified October 5 and 6. Officers and search and rescue teams checked McCloud Avenue, nearby forested areas, and the railroad corridor between Mount Shasta Boulevard and Everitt Memorial Highway. Searchers used dogs, drones, and all-terrain vehicles, while officers distributed flyers door to door and reviewed available security camera footage.

On October 7, at approximately 10 a.m., community members walking near the railroad tracks above Shastice Park reported an unusual odor to search personnel. Responders subsequently located a deceased woman whose clothing matched the description of Dortha Evans. Authorities later identified her and notified her family.

The official cause of death remains pending an autopsy.

A Community That Answered the Call

The Mount Shasta Police Department expressed its condolences to Evans' family and recognized the many people who devoted their time and energy to the search.

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Mt Shasta Police Department Facebook post announcement: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1597184072441185&set=a.220873223405617

The department thanked the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office, Siskiyou County Search and Rescue volunteers, and assisting search teams from Klamath, Jackson, Shasta, and Butte counties, among others. The California Highway Patrol and U.S. Forest Service also contributed to the response.

Local residents helped by sharing missing-person notices, providing information, and remaining attentive to their surroundings. Ultimately, observations made by community members helped searchers locate Evans.

The department emphasized that while this was not the outcome anyone hoped for, the search demonstrated what a community can accomplish when people work together toward a common goal.

Grief, Gratitude, and Remembrance

The police department's announcement prompted an outpouring of sympathy on social media. Residents have offered prayers, condolences, and heartfelt thanks to the officers and volunteers who participated.

One commenter wrote, "I'm heart broken . I've been thinking of her. My heart goes out to her loved ones."

Another expressed appreciation for the search effort: "Thank you for your public service and commendable efforts."

Some residents have also raised questions about the six days between Evans' last reported sighting on September 25 and the missing-person report filed October 1. The police statement does not explain when concerns first arose, what efforts were made to locate her during that period, or what circumstances led to the October 1 notification. Those questions remain unanswered publicly, and the Observer has not independently established what occurred.

For now, a family and community are grieving.

Dortha Diane Evans' death is a painful loss, and the care shown by those who searched for her deserves recognition. Officers, volunteers, and neighbors gave their time and energy in the hope of finding her alive.

Their efforts remind us that even in sorrow, a community's compassion matters. Perhaps especially then. ❤️

Dortha was found. May her spirit be flying free and unburdened, and may her family and loved ones be comforted in their loss.

Gratitude to the Mount Shasta Police Department, Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office, search-and-rescue volunteers from Siskiyou, Shasta, Klamath, Jackson and Butte counties, the California Highway Patrol, the U.S. Forest Service, and the many local residents who assisted in the search for Dortha Diane Evans.

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