Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Holds Press Conference Confirming that Caroline Meister Body Has Been Located in the Tassajara area of the Ventana Wilderness

On Friday, March 22, 2024 at about 4:00 PM, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference to inform the

community that the body of missing hiker Caroline Meister had been located.

Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto announced that search and rescue personnel were performing a high angle search off

of the “Cut Off” trail where a waterfall drops off of the trail. Search and rescue personnel rappelled down the steep drop

off and located Caroline Meister’s body at the base of the waterfall.

Sheriff Tina Nieto said there were no signs of foul play. She added that she had spoken to Caroline’s mother, Jean Meister,

earlier in the day. Jean Meister wished to express her gratitude to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue and

the many volunteers that helped search for Caroline Meister to bring her home.

On Monday, March 18, 2024, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office received a report that Caroline Meister left the Zen Center at

Tassajara in the Ventana Wilderness at 10:00 AM for what was supposed to be a day hike. She left with food for the day

and the clothing she was wearing. She was not prepared for an overnight hike. When she failed to return that evening,

staff and friends at the Zen Center began to search for her and then contacted the Sheriff’s Office. Search efforts continued

for 4 days until her discovery on March 22.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank the many agencies that provided assistance in their search efforts. This

includes search and Rescue teams from Monterey County, Solano County, Santa Clara County, California Search and Rescue,

Bay Area Mountain Rescue, Marin County, Contra Costa County and Napa County. Additional resources have been

provided by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Drone Team, California Highway Patrol, CARDA (K9 unit), FIRIS (Heat

Sensing Aircraft) and the California Office of Emergency Services. The American Red Cross provided food and beverages for

the search teams.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office extends its most sincere condolences to Caroline Meister’s family.

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