Richmond man has not been found after going missing Wednesday in Bear Valley
BEAR VALLEY SKI RESORT, Calif. - A Richmond man who went missing on Wednesday still has not been found, the Alpine County Sheriff's Office said today.
Jane Drummond-Mullarkey reported at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday that her 65-year-old husband, Thomas Mullarkey, had gone missing after going skiing at the Bear Valley Mountain Resort in Alpine County.
She told the sheriff's office that Mullarkey had not returned to the couple's cabin in Arnold, and officers found his car at the resort shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Mullarkey is known to be an advanced skier in good health, according to the sheriff's office.
The sheriff's office said they have been searching for him since Wednesday with no success.
Because of the "extreme avalanche danger" in the surrounding areas, the sheriff's office said search efforts have been focused within the resort boundaries.
The office said there isn't enough evidence to suggest that Mullarkey skied outside of the area.
Air operations were able to deploy for the first time today due to weather conditions, the sheriff's office said, and search and rescue personnel have been looking for Mullarkey during heavy snowfall, white-out conditions and single-digit temperatures.
The California Highway Patrol has also assigned a helicopter to search for him in areas around the resort.
The sheriff's office said it has requested search helicopters from the CHP and the Air National Guard for March 19.
A fixed-wing drone with advanced surveillance and a fixed-wing aircraft with "highly sensitive" infrared technology has also been requested for the evening, the sheriff's office said in a news release.
Mullarkey is a white man who is 5 feet 8 inches tall, about 150 pounds with grey hair and blue eyes.
He was last wearing a blue, red and yellow snowsuit.
Anyone with information about Mullarkey's location is asked to contact Undersheriff Spencer Case at (530) 694-2331 x 357.