*** Danny Hoienstein: Massive Search for 6-year old ***

Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 14:36:06 -0800
From: Mike Larish <bcsar@sunset.net>
To: sar-l-d@islandnet.com
Subject: Danny Hoienstein

I am posting this information because I know hundreds of SAR people in
central and northern California were involved in this operation.

On Tuesday, December 1, 1992, a six year old boy, Danny, disappeared in
extremely thick and rough terrain of the Magalia / Paradise Pines area of
Butte County. Subsequently, one of the largest searches we've ever had
occurred. Over the next week (and then continued periodically over time
with the investigation), a massive search effort ensued. Mutual aid
requests brought in 16 county SAR teams, numerous in-county resources (our
own Search & Rescue, CDF, County Fire, Sheriff's Office, Paradise Police,
public, etc.), CARDA K9 teams, OES, FBI, Coast Guard (air support), CHP
(air support), U.S. military (air support), and much more. By Sunday,
December 6th, over 18,000 personhours had been expended with nothing ever
found. There were however, a number of odd issues that never seemed to
make sense or add up.

The search and investigation were looking at two general theories. (a)
Danny wandered away from home into the heavily forested and brushed areas
of the canyons dying from hyopthermia (very cold) or being attacked by a
mountain lion or (b) Danny was abducted (due to a variety of possible
reasons we won't get into here).

Over the next 6 years, the investigation continued with a number of local
SAR callouts to check out leads as well as tens of thousands of law
enforcement leads.

Three weeks ago, a skull, some other bones, and some clothing were found
roughly 1.5 miles from the PLS. According to local anthropologists at
CSUC, the skull is that of a 6 to 7 year old boy. Further, the clothing
that was found matches that of what Danny was last known to wear. Law
enforcement at this time is 95% sure that these are the remains of Danny.
Enough so that they notified the family and a funeral has occurred. Some of
these remains will be sent to Quantico, VA, for DNA analysis to get 100%
confirmation.

The criminal investigation is still going on at this time. Unfortunately,
law enforcement may never know the cause of Danny's demise, be it natural
based upon being lost and the elements or abduction and homicide.

As more information becomes available for the public on this investigation,
I will pass it on.

Mike
--
Mike Larish             | Butte Co. Sheriff Search & Rescue (Lt. Training)
nomad@ecst.csuchico.edu | Butte Co. Sheriff Communications Reserve (Sgt.)
Swift Water Rescue Inst.| Butte Co. Drowning Accident Rescue Team (DART)
EMT / Technical Rescue  | Enloe Hospital, Trauma Services

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