South Lake Tahoe Police: Missing woman's body found in Truckee River
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Sun, 04/09/2017 - 5:07pm
The body of 62-year-old Pamela Suwinsky was found in the Upper Truckee River in South Lake Tahoe on Sunday, about one-third mile north of Highway 50. Divers found her before noon but did not have positive identification until about 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
Divers from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office spent Sunday in the cold and rapidly moving Upper Truckee River, looking for signs of Suwinsky, who was last seen at the Motel 6 in South Lake Tahoe on the afternoon of April 3.
Henry Suwinsky, Pamela's ex-husband, was with her in South Lake Tahoe along with her pet dog. He said she left the motel room with her ID and credit cards, but leaving behind her cell phone, purse and dog. Her body was found with the ID and credit cards, along with some cash.
South Lake Tahoe Police Department and El Dorado County Sheriff's had been searching in the meadow behind Motel 6 all week, bringing out the divers and a drone Sunday. SLTPD detectives have been to San Jose to interview Suwinsky as well as serving a search warrant on Pamela's Sacramento home to look through files and her computer.
According to SLTPD Lt. Shannon Laney, Henry Suwinsky and Pamela had remained friends since their divorce several years ago.
"He remains an important witness in this case," said Lt. Laney. "This is an open and active case."
Volunteers from South Lake Tahoe and Sacramento had spent the day canvasing neighborhoods around the motel and the Upper Truckee River, sharing Suwinsky's photo and talking to those who may have seen the Sacramento woman prior to her disappearance.
South Lake Tahoe Police Detective Brian Hannink met with volunteers at the main post office on Al Tahoe Boulevard prior to their heading out and then again at 4 p.m. when Lt. Laney had to break the news to the volunteers.
Search organizer Kathy Lawson, a friend of Suwinsky's, brought friends up from Sacramento to help in the search.
"Than you for coming up and helping us," Lt. Laney told the gathered group.
An autopsy is being conducted in Sacramento and results should be known by Tuesday, Laney said. Family members and Suwinsky's mother who lives back east, have been notified.
Kathy Wilbrecht Lawson released the following statement from Pam's close friends in Sacramento:
"As you can imagine this is not the outcome we had hoped and prayed for. We are devastated. Since finding out that Pam was missing on Wednesday, we have heard from so many of her loved ones, friends and acquaintances, and it warms our hearts to know that so many peoples' lives have been touched by this special lady. Pam had a huge heart that extended to her family, friends, her beloved pets and everybody she came in contact with.
We want to extend our thanks to all of those that participated in the search efforts, particularly the authorities in the Lake Tahoe area, including the local police, sheriff, fire and search & rescue personnel. A huge thank you also to the community of South Lake Tahoe, including those that helped with the search and the many community members that were praying right along with her family and friends.
Pam you will be forever in our hearts, and we will never forget your beautiful smile."
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