Expand / Collapse search
☰

California camping trip turns fatal: 1 teenager dead, 1 man missing

By KTVU staff
Published  July 16, 2022 2:30pm PDT
California
KTVU FOX 2

Teen found dead, man missing in Plumas National Forest

Butte County Sheriff's office said a teenager died and a 57-year old man is missing after they went camping in Plumas National Forest and got separated.

BERRY CREEK, Calif. - A camping trip in Northern California turned fatal last week after 2 men and a teenager got separated.

The Butte County Sheriff said one of the men notified them Wednesday that he had gone camping with his 14-year-old son and adult friend near Bald Rock Trailhead in Berry Creek. 

Christopher Stephenson: photo courtesy of Butte County Sheriff's Office.

The man said during the trip he became separated from his son and friend who was identified as Christopher Stephenson, 57, of Marysville. 

After receiving the call from the father, deputies began searching for his son and Stephenson. 

ALSO: Northern California tree trimmer guilty in deadly throat-slashings

On Wednesday evening, officials said they located the missing teen near the bottom of a steep rock embankment. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Sheriff's Office said they are still actively searching for Stephenson.

ALSO: Petaluma twins arrested in homicide of 23-year-old Novato man

The public is asked to contact the Butte County Sheriff’s Office at 530-538-7322 with any information on this case.