Search for body called off
By John Loesing
Acorn Staff Writer

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said no further searches are planned for an Agoura Hills woman missing in the rugged mountains of Malibu since March.

Melinda Hedges, 38, disappeared when her 1992 Toyota Corolla reportedly veered off Kanan Road two miles north of the Pacific Coast Highway and plunged into a deep ravine.

A routine helicopter patrol by the California Highway Patrol found Hedges’ car May 6, but no trace of the woman. Authorities feared animals might have intervened.

Earlier this week a Sheriff’s Department helicopter scouted the area to see if search dogs could be lowered into the brush so the hunt for Hodges’ body might continue.

"There is no place to land a helicopter at the bottom of the canyon" said Deputy Gary Stephens, head of the Sheriff’s Department Malibu Mountain Rescue team.

Because the ravine is so steep –estimates say it’s at least 50 feet–launching a search from the top would have been too dangerous, according to rescuers.

"I feel for the family ... but at the same time we can’t risk a helicopter crash," Stephens said.

Deputies found Hedges’ purse when they retrieved her car, but came up empty-handed as they looked for other clues. Search dogs were able to comb the road above, but not the ravine.

Hedges was believed to be riding alone when the incident occurred. The car was registered in her name.