Sheriff William F. Honsal | Humboldt Sheriff’s Office website
Sheriff William F. Honsal | Humboldt Sheriff’s Office website
On May 15, 2024, around 6:00 p.m., deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the Kimtu Beach area of Willow Creek, CA following a report of a possible drowning. Witnesses reported that an adult male was swimming in the Trinity River when he exhibited signs of distress before disappearing beneath the water's surface. He has not been seen since.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered another individual from the missing man’s group stranded on a rock and unable to return to shore. Deputies initiated search and rescue efforts from the shore while members of the H.C.S.O. Special Services Division launched an on-water search with a boat.
Additional support arrived from various agencies including the Willow Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Hoopa Volunteer Fire Department, Hawkins Bar Volunteer Fire Department, Willow Creek/Hoopa Ambulance, and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. The helicopter crew successfully rescued the man stranded on the rock.
Despite continued search efforts into late evening by these agencies, they were unable to locate the missing man. He has been identified as 23-year-old Jeshua Wilkinson of Arcata. Wilkinson is described as being of Hawaiian descent, standing at 5 foot 9 inches tall and weighing approximately 160 pounds with short black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black shorts.
The H.C.S.O., along with partner agencies including a California Highway Patrol helicopter, are continuing their search efforts in an attempt to locate and recover Wilkinson.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information regarding this case to contact them at (707) 445-7251 or subscribe to news alerts at humboldtsheriff.org/subscribe for updates.
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