Hiker Rescue 

January 19, 2026 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on January 17, 2026, at 8:26 p.m., deputies responded to the area of the 56000 block of East State Highway 74, Anza, regarding a missing hiker. The caller reported four subjects in their group left for a hike early that morning and was concerned they had not returned. Believing they could be in distress, an additional subject in their party went searching for them.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit and Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit (RMRU) were requested and responded to assist. The Aviation Unit located the initial group of lost hikers and safely hoisted them out. The group was transported to the Lake Hemet Mountain Station, where they were medically evaluated.

The Aviation Unit continued the search for the additional hiker and located that hiker near the bottom of an approximately 150-foot rock face. RMRU personnel reached the hiker and pronounced the hiker deceased at the scene. The Riverside Coroner’s Bureau was contacted, and they responded to assume the investigation. RMRU personnel assisted in recovering the decedent from the remote mountainous area. The identity of the deceased hiker will not be released at this time. This investigation is ongoing, and no additional information is available at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Francisco Lopez at the Hemet Sheriff Station at (951) 791-3400.

Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant Christopher Brown

File # D260170064

Source: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office