Missing Family Found Alive In Calif.

Dad, 3 Kids "Appear To Be OK" Three Days After Vanishing On Christmas Tree Hunt

(CBS/AP)  A father and three children who vanished on a Christmas tree-cutting trip in the Northern California mountains were found alive Wednesday after huddling in a culvert for warmth during three days of heavy snowstorms.

"They have found all four, and they appear to be OK," police Sgt. Steve Rowe said.

"Our hearts are all full right now," said Cory Stahl, who owns a pest control business where the father, Frederick Dominguez, works. "It's a very merry Christmas now."

A California Highway Patrol helicopter delivered the family to safety, the two youngest children brought out of the woods first. The father smiled at family and friends, who cheered as he and his 18-year-old son emerged from their helicopter.

The two younger children, ages 14 and 12, emerged from a rescue helicopter after being flown out of the mountains Wednesday afternoon. They stepped out of the chopper and were immediately enveloped in a cluster of well-wishers carrying heavy blankets.

Stahl closed his business so he and his employees could assist the search. The four family members suffered mild to moderate hypothermia and were being taken to a hospital but were otherwise fine, he said.

The four apparently survived by huddling in a culvert, CHP officer Joe Hagerty said.

CHP pilot Steve Ward and flight officer David White found the family after spotting the word "help" stomped in the snow, Hagerty said. The helicopter was able to join the search midday on Wednesday after low-lying clouds lifted.

Searchers had hoped the family had found one of the many cabins or caves that dotted the heavily wooded and canyon-crossed area.

More than a foot of snow has fallen in the area since the family disappeared, and drifts ranged from 1 to 7 feet deep across the heavily wooded and canyon-crossed area.

The rescue teams had been racing time and the elements to find the four, as a powerful storm carrying even more snow was bearing down on the region.

Frederick Dominguez, 38, and his children - Christopher, 18, Alexis, 14, and Joshua, 12 - have been missing since Sunday in the region about 100 miles north of Sacramento. Dominguez's pickup truck was found Monday night parked along a mountain road some 25 miles northeast of Chico.

The family also appeared better equipped than rescuers initially thought. Earlier reports said the family went into the woods to cut a Christmas tree wearing T-shirts and light jackets, but all four were wearing heavy winter coats when they emerged from the helicopters, and some had wool caps.

"We're all extremely thankful and feel like we got a Christmas miracle," said Teresa Kennebeck, a secretary at Paradise High School, where Alexis is on the cheerleader squad and soccer team.

Dominguez's co-workers said he is devoted to his children and takes them to church every Sunday, as he did this weekend before heading out in search of a Christmas tree.

"He lives for his family," said Mairleen Grove, the pest company's office manager. "When he walks in the door, he makes everybody smile."

Authorities believe Dominguez and the children went to church Sunday before leaving for the mountains.

He parked his Chevrolet pickup along a road near the mountain hamlet of Inskip on Sunday afternoon, then likely walked downhill into the woods with his children and became lost, Butte County Search and Rescue spokeswoman Madde Watt said.

"You could get turned around very quickly," she said.

It was clear at the time and for hours after the family entered the woods. The first storm wave didn't hit until Monday.

After the children's schools said they didn't show up, Dominguez's ex-wife Lisa Sams reported them missing and gathered with family and friends to wait as rescuers set out to look for them in snow as deep as seven feet and nighttime temperatures well below freezing, reports CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes.

They quickly found the pickup - a bare spot beneath it, indicating little snow when the trek began - but at least 8 inches of snow was covering the ground, hurting efforts to track them.

The search effort expanded significantly Wednesday morning, as snow had stopped falling for the first time since the family went missing.

It intensified as another moisture-laden Pacific storm was heading toward California, expected to blanket most of the northern state with rain and snow by late Wednesday afternoon.

About 2 feet of snow was expected to fall Wednesday night and Thursday morning in the area where the family had been missing, said Jared Leighton, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Sacramento.

[nlm2383]

This happened Sunday and they are just now reporting it......? I dunno about anyone else, but this is the first I''ve heard of this story.

[maiingan]

This may turn out to be yet another sad case of people who hadn''t been properly educated about the geography, weather, or survival skills & equipment for the area where they went. In this case, which has yet to be resolved as I write, merely having snowshoes along might be the difference between OK and not-OK outcomes. It''s way past time to start such education in elementary school.

[prairiefox1]

JUST PLAIN STUPIDITY! BEING A FATHER I WOULD NEVER PUT MY KIDS IN SUCH A DANGEROUS SITUATION! AND THEY ARE HEALTHY, MARRIED AND HAVE CHILDREN THAT THEY PROTECT AS I HAVE DONE!
PURE STUPIDITY!

[pollroller1]

nim2383, they must have had only had space for one more story. Let''s see now. Britny''s sister is going to have a baby or a man and his sons lost in the mountains. Gosh, I guess Britny''s sister is much more important news.

[debsen1]

No one should be in a remote mountain area without proper survival gear and training. So sad...it seems every year or so we hear about this type of thing. We definitely need more education on how dangerous this type of "fun" can become. I hope the family is found and will be OK.

[adjustable]

This is what we call natural selection.

[auntdoe]

Yes what has happened is what''s sad, but what''s really sad, is not 1 of you people said that we should all keep this family in our prayers and pray that they are brought back to the rest of their family alive and well.
That''s what is sad. Talk about having differances of opinions, and having your morals in the right place.
I hope and pray that the family is found and they make it home safely.

And sometimes, fathers and mothers alike, try to do things that are special and maybe a little out there, but remember people, when you point that finger at someone, there are 4 more pointing back at you.....

So before you judge the dad for what he''s done, stop and think about their safety and not his stupidity.

[babyj0205]

THIS IS VERY SAD NEWS. SO CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS AND THIS TRAGEDY HAPPEN. SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.HOPE EVERYTHING TURNS OUT OK FOR THE FAMILY

[gramto7]

What was wrong with the trees on the lots around town? I hope Mr. Mountain Man didn''''t get his family killed.

Posted by juceas

I don''t know about you, but not everyone has $50, $60, or $100 to pay for a tree they will throw away in 2 weeks or less. A lot of people cut their own. They don''t pay the outrageous prices. Then there are those of us who either don''t have trees or get the reusable ones.

I do agree that the family should have gone better prepared, even though they didn''t think they would be very long. You never know when your vehicle will break down or other incidents happen, so preparation is necessary.

[nurgen-2009]

Bush''s fault. As plain as the setting sun.

[connapa]

They could have gone to a tree farm and spent $40 on a tree and made it home the same day. Instead, they decided to try to get one for free. Venture too far into the woods. Lose sight of where you came in from. And, BAM!! you''re lost. Add poor preparation to the mix, and you wind up with a tragedy. I only hope they found some sort of cabin with a heat source. That''s about the only way they could ever survive in those conditions.

[venkata4--2008]

Last year a well educated Cnet computer guy died by taking short cut through snowy mountains. He was also not wearing proper clothing, etc. This thanks giving while driving to MN I hit a deer and stranded on the free way for some time. Help came in less than an hour. I had couple of sleeping bags, winter clothing, jacket on and 2 days of food in my car apart from 2 fully charged cell phones and big flash light. Luckily it was not snowing. We never know. Winter long driving or should be avoided if possible. Hope this family will be found safe. I will keep this family in my prayers.

[PulSamsara]

Well... I we''re praying for these people this Christmas season. I will be (in my own way )

[absjls1]

please people if you''re going outdoors take at least a basic survival kit with you

[ptmny]

I hope these people have found some kind of shelter and have stuck together. Being lost in the wilderness is bad; being outdoors in winter weather without appropriate clothing is bad; together they can be deadly. I have to say though, at this time of year in upstate New York, where I live, we''re delighted when temperatures are in the 20s. I don''t even want to walk from my parking lot at work to my office building without being covered from head to toe in down and fleece!

[hollyt2-2009]

(re: connapa) its not about getting a tree for free. its about doing it the old fashionway that everyone did years ago.. Ive been cutting for years and its quite a bonding experience for a family/ its just awful that they didnt think again but not sure about the rest of you but Ive made mistakes and bad judgements before and probably will in the future too.

[madeupnews]

A Christmas Miracle is in order here. With all of the tragedies and injustices throughout the world, throughout the year, perhaps one shining glimmer of hope and a happy ending is in order here. At 7:00 PM (EST) we all should pray in a moment of silence for their safe return.

[klumifmt]

At least htey were found alive.

[robertkjjj]

It was Bush''s fault they got lost!!! Bush decreased spending on the US Maps Dept, so these guys as a result had obsolete maps.

[agarwal1]

Bush and Chenny were behind this. It is proven.

[ptmny]

Thank goodness they are safe.

[usbrit-2009]

Going into the low mountains relatively close to the road to cut your own tree is wonderful for the kids. I guess all you naysayers will back on line to congratulate the four for being prepared enough to survive 4 days up there. Thanks for a happy ending guys.

[Krazcarl]

Some folks just don''t have common seance, all to get a free christmas tree and be cheap and how many thousands of dollars for the search and rescue, the man should be billed for it.

[sugarmice-2009]

NO they aren''t cheap - I remember when I was young, it was family tradition that my father took us kids out and cut down the xmas tree, brought it home, put it in the back porch to thaw and then a few days later we ALL (brothers, sisters, mom and dad) spent time together decorating the tree. I have so many wonderful warm memories of this... perhaps if alot of you - crzmeat did the same, your family would be close and the memories will be with them forever...
Thank god they were found alive and well...
My prayers were with them -

[ov442]

thank God! i wonder where they found them and how they managed so well in comparison with how searchers initially thought they would in such deep snow and cold.
maybe they found an abandoned cabin wiht a fireplace and got a fire going with some tree branches.

[newsjunky5]

"Some folks just don''''t have common seance, all to get a free christmas tree and be cheap and how many thousands of dollars for the search and rescue, the man should be billed for it."

Someone''s always trying to "stick it to the Man"
Hindsight is 20/20. They didn''t know they would get lost, probably had gone into the woods dozens of times and came right back out without a hitch. A friend of mine bought a tree, slid on the ice, and banged up her van getting it home. So buying one is stupid too. But you''re right that if they did have, even a common seance, the family might have been found for thousands less. Some people just don''t know when to consult the spirits, or have a beer/some wine.

newsjunky5, and you write like a second grader.....it''s common SENSE you moron

It is awesome to read about good news for a change. Family tradition is something I see you morons on here have no clue to what it is. Guess it comes from sitting in front of a computer screen all day thinking you are the foremost authorities on everything. When realistically, you know absolutely nothing.

[hawksprings]

Thank God they were found alive!!

1-7 feet of snow has fallen there???

Where the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks is the Global Warming?????
If we would be having Global Warming, this would never have happened!!!

Where''s Algore when you need him?!?

[jkhagemann]

I wish we were all as smart as "Mitchoncbs". The guy seems to have an answer for everything. Leave it to an "a.....e" like him to taint a good news story.

[ptmny]

why is it that news forums attract people who want more than anything to attack one another??????

[clawson44-2009]

I live 20 miles below this place and I know how it can change in a heartbeat..weather-wise. I have been following all the news and my scanner for four days. I am very thankful and happy they were found. They just thought to make the sign in the middle of the dirt road covered with snow that saved them. The Great Spirit was watching over them.........OH AND BY THE WAY jerks....use the forum for talking about the stories you read,....NOT POLITICS

[cpaide]

"I have been following all the news and my scanner for four days. I am very thankful and happy they were found."

Posted by clawson44

get a life or a couple of kids of your own to worry about.

[libsluvsuvs]

THANK GOD!

[clawson44-2009]

cpaide...I have a life and nine kids and nine grandkids...I am a mortician and my husband is a truck driver...Have some sympathy for someone other than yourself...DUMB ***

[cfin5]

I''m never disappointed to hear good news of a happy ending to a tragedy. Keep up that kind of a niche CBS!

[rushlimpdrug]

Posted by hawksprings at 05:44 PM

Hey stupid, it is winter.
It gets cold in winter and hot in summer.
There was record heat in summer and there may be record heat/cold in winter.
Get educated before you die, you are already a burden on the rest of society.

[xmissile]

Let me get this straight. This Darwin-award-winning family went out into the forest on a quest to find the a genetically perfect tree that has defied the odds, so that they can cut it down when it is helping to offset carbon in the face of global warming. I''ve got a few traditions we could add to Christmas. How about honeybee roasting?

[nothappyatall]

How nice, now send them the BILL for the costs of the rescue helicopter and all the rest the taxpayers are footing the bill on for their religious tree finding celebration escapade.

[hawksprings]

So let me get this Global Warming thing straight:
If it''s really hot out, it''s Human-Caused Global Warming.
If it''s really cold out, it''s Human-Caused Global Warming.
If there''s a drought, it''s Human-Caused Global Warming.
If there''s a flood, it''s Human-Caused Global Warming.
If there''s a Killer Hurricane, it''s Human-Caused Global Warming.
If there''s NO hurricanes, it''s Human-Caused Global Warming.

Now I get it!!!
If there''s WEATHER anywhere on the planet, it''s Human-Caused Global Warming.

How Convenient for all you Global Warming Sheep!!

[erasmus6]

rushlimpdrug

You will have to excuse hawksprings, he only sees what he wants to see and hear what he wants to hear. He just can''t seem to fugure out how the global warming thing is going to work.

[hawksprings]

erasmus,
I have it figured out!

Anytime there is an extreme weather event on the planet, it''s Human-Caused Global Warming, and thus, it''s MY FAULT!!

(I''m a married guy, so I have plenty of experience at being at fault for everything. :) )

What I don''t understand is, why did extreme weather events happen BEFORE Human-Caused Global Warming, and who''s fault was it back then?

[rudy654-2009]

How Convenient for all you Global Warming Sheep!! Posted by hawksprings at 08:24 PM

Are you really that stupid? A family gets caught up in the mountains during a snow storm and you want to make this an argument against global warming? The very area these people are in has not seen a decent winter in years. The threat of drought is ever a problem until normal winters return. Meanwhile, that doesn''t mean you don''t get a bad storm once in a while. Why don''t you admit that you don''t know a thing about global warming and you aren''t about to educate yourself anyway, except what you get from your god Limbogg.

[xmissile]

There are a million hawksprings in this country. Not a particularly bright or informed bunch. They are the types who lick their finger and hold it up to determine which way to p*ss. Can''t cure stupid.

[Syndicate]

It is illegal to cut your own christmas tree from the forest in California. I''m glad they are safe.

Global warming? Do the calcs. They don''t work. It is a good thing that most Americans are too dumb to think for themselfs. If they could they would see Global warming as the corporate wellfare fraud that it is. Its just another way to seperate you from your hard earned shrinking dollar.

[hawksprings]

You people are being so mean-spirited!
Did you not get enough sleep last night?

I''m thrilled that this story has a happy ending.

I''m just waiting for the day when, as Algore said, we would have no more winters. Then families won''t get lost in the snow.

Instead, 4-5 years after Algore said that, we''re having near-record or record snow falls around the country.

I don''t think you can see how amusing it is to have the Global Warming Sheep blame ALL weather on Human beings and their evil fossil-burning devices!

[rushlimpdrug]

Posted by hawksprings at 08:50 PM

Let me guess, you live out in the koooontry with no neeeeibors.
Most idiots that "know" global warming is a myth are either as dumb as an azz and live out in the "sticks" and when they see snow say, "look over yonder, there''s da proof it ain''t global warmin''"

[pakaal]

hawksprings wrote: How Convenient for all you Global Warming Sheep!!

Yes, yes, you''ve more than proved you understand the intricacies of global climate change far better than the earth''s greatest scientists. Looks like you''re ready for the big time: that stupid old idea that the earth revolves around the sun....

www.fixedearth.com

On a realistic note, I''m glad to hear the family was found safe. Nice Christmas present for them!

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by newster1 at 08:16 PM : Dec 19, 2007

How ''bout I send you the bill for having to read your ***! If you don''t like Christmas go live somewhere they don''t have it...Iraq is nice this time of year!

[lizzielawton]

It is NOT illegal to cut down trees in forests in California. All one does is purchase a permit. I have done it many times before, as have many in the Sierra Nevada.