Sun Valley woman believed missing near Markleeville

GARDNERVILLE " Members of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue are assisting in a search for a missing person near the town of Markleeville in Alpine County.

Leslie Lee Gray, 51, a resident of Sun Valley, has not been seen for approximately a week.

Her vehicle was discovered parked near the Hangman's Bridge area of Markleeville on March 29 in a turnout that is a popular spot for hikers.

Alpine County Sheriff's deputies became suspicious that something was amiss when they discovered the vehicle still parked in the turnout Sunday, said Douglas County Sheriff's Sgt. Jim Halsey.

Alpine County deputies checked the vehicle and found it contained miscellaneous clothing, paperwork, and an ice chest with food and drinks.

This discovery led them to believe that Gray was missing, and not out on a routine hiking trip, said Halsey.

Follow-up investigation with Gray's family and neighbor's revealed that she had not been seen or heard from for over a week.

It is unknown why Gray's vehicle was parked in the turnout in Markleeville.

Since Sunday about 20 members of the Alpine County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team, augmented by 17 members of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team, have combed the surrounding hiking trails, forested areas, and Carson River in an attempt to locate Gray.

This exhaustive search included use of four search dogs; two from Douglas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue, one from El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue and one from Calaveras County Emergency Services. To date, Gray has not yet been located. The search continues.

Gray is described as a white female adult, 5-feet-10-inches tall, weighing approximately 145 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on the possible whereabouts of Gray is asked to call the Douglas County Emergency Services Dispatch Center at (775)782-9911.