Tragic Discovery Made in Search for Missing Hiker on Black Mountain

San Diego, CA - San Diego police have made a heartbreaking discovery in the search for a 50-year-old woman who went missing while hiking on Black Mountain during the region's first heat wave of the summer. Authorities held a news conference on Monday to announce that a body matching the description of Diem Le Nguyen was found. While the Medical Examiner's office would officially confirm the identity, a post on social media announced that Nguyen had been located, bringing an end to the search.

SDPD Lt. Daniel Meyer expressed his condolences to Nguyen's family and friends, acknowledging the pain they must be feeling. He also called on the community to rally together to support them during this traumatic time.

Investigators revealed that Nguyen had embarked on the hike with a group of 100 hikers participating in a 5K fundraiser for the Build a School Foundation. At around 8 a.m., the group paused halfway up the Nighthawk Trail, located at 9711 Oviedo Way. Nguyen, however, decided to continue the trail alone. She later contacted the group at 9:30 a.m. to inform them that she had reached the end. But at 10:08 a.m., Nguyen reached out to her sister, expressing exhaustion and the need for water.

When Nguyen failed to make further contact, her disappearance was reported, triggering an extensive search and rescue operation. More than 50 volunteers, along with search dogs and drones, scoured the mountain until nightfall on Sunday.

As a heat wave gripped San Diego County, the search for Nguyen intensified. But sadly, despite the efforts of multiple search teams, including the San Diego Sheriff's Search and Rescue team, along with helicopters, a search drone, K-9 units, and park rangers, Nguyen remained elusive. The search was temporarily called off at 1 a.m.

On Monday, the search resumed, while officials urged the public to stay away from the area to avoid confusing the search dogs with additional scents. Cellphone pings from Nguyen's device were obtained, although authorities noted that they were not entirely accurate. They continued their efforts to ping the cellphone for a more precise location. SDPD Lt. Daniel Meyer mentioned that a locator message was sent to Nguyen's device, which would have shared live GPS data with the search and rescue team, but it was not activated.

Around 9:15 a.m. on Monday, searchers made the tragic discovery of a body just a quarter-mile away from civilization. While awaiting official confirmation from the Medical Examiner, Meyer stated that it appeared to be the missing hiker.

The entire community mourns the loss of Diem Le Nguyen and offers their support to her grieving family and friends. As investigations continue, the focus shifts towards understanding the circumstances surrounding her untimely demise.